As the Travel industry starts to open up, we are getting many enquiries about vaccinations for traveling abroad.
You may have noticed that NHS Grampian has changed the way that vaccines are offered. For example, Flu and Covid vaccinations are being provided from a central hub rather than from the GP Practice. The aim of this is to give our nursing staff the space to manage patients with more complex health needs.
Travel vaccinations are now being provided by the Community Pharmacies, rather than by your GP Practice. Full details of the scheme is available on the following link: https://www.grampianvax.com/travel-vaccination/
A list of Pharmacies providing the service can be found here: https://www.grampianvax.com/…/NHS-Grampian-Travel… Please note – this is the list as of 7 Oct 2021 and the link may not work if the document is updated in the future.
The move is part of a wider reorganisation of services across Scotland, with the aim of freeing up GP and Nurse time to see patients who are sick – rather than seeing healthy patients that are simply travelling or need routine basic medications. Your Community Pharmacy can also provide a range of prescription medicines under the “Pharmacy First” scheme – without you needing to see a GP so please consider this option first before calling your GP it may save you time and also save on unnecessary GP appointments.
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
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.
