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Travel Clinic & Holiday Vaccinations

To try and help manage GP workload and make sure GP’s are using their skills in the best way possible the Scottish Government along with GP’s agreed that giving vaccination should be moved away from General Practice.

You are still able to receive travel vaccinations however this will now be offered to you directly by NHS Lothian.

If you require further information about travel and vaccination then please click on the link below

Travel Guidance from NHS Lothian

Please click on this link to find the latest guidance from NHS Lothian

Healthy Travel Leaflet

You may find the following leaflet helpful when making your travel arrangements.

Malaria

Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. If it isn’t diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be fatal.

A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected.

Please download our useful leaflet on Mosquito Advice

Hepatitis immunisation

Immunisation against infectious Hepatitis (Hepatitis A) is available free of charge on the NHS in connection with travel abroad. However Hepatitis B is not routinely available free of charge and therefore you may be charged for this vaccination when requested in connection with travel abroad

Private Travel Clinics

If you are unable to wait for our next available travel advice appointment, as advised by the reception staff, then you can attend any Private Travel Clinic (you can obtain these numbers in the Yellow Pages see link below i.e. type in “travel clinic” then “your area”, to display a list of clinics) charges will apply at these clinics.

Fit for Travel

If you wish further information before you travel please click the link for Fit For Travel where further information can be obtained relating to your holiday/travel destination.

Holidays and travel

Difficulties with travel can often be avoided by good planning – enabling you to avoid or overcome any problems so that you can enjoy your travels and have a stress-free break.

Excess quantities of regular repeat prescriptions

A Scottish home and Health Department circular from 1971 clarifies the position on prescribing for patients going abroad for extended periods. It states:-

“If a patient intends to go away for a longer period(than two to three week’s holiday) he/she may not be regarded as a resident of this country and would not be entitled to the benefits of the National Health Service…. It may not be in the patient’s best interest for him/her to continue to self-medication over such longer periods…. If a patient is going abroad for a long period, he/she should be prescribed sufficient drugs to meet his/her requirements only until such time as he can place himself/herself in the care of a doctor at his/her destination.”

Where ongoing medical attention is not necessary, the patient may be given a private prescription.

Useful Links