Our practice nurses hold up-to-date information on your needs for injections and malaria protection for travel abroad. Our practice cannot give antimalarial prescriptions on the NHS.

Immunisations

Please attend early enough prior to your date of travel to allow enough time for the injection courses to take effect. There is a fee for some of the latter.

Cadwgan Surgery is an approved Yellow Fever vaccination centre.

Deep vein thrombosis

The risk of deep vein thrombosis (which is a blood clot in the veins deep within the legs) and air travel has been well documented recently. There is also a risk of DVT with any journey where you are unable to walk around normally for a prolonged period of time, for example long coach journeys.

Follow this advice to reduce the risk of DVT during travel:

1. Get 'flight socks' (most of the local pharmacies stock them) and use them during travel.

2. Stay hydrated whilst travelling - drink plenty of water (rather than alcohol or drinks containing caffeine).

3. Exercise the muscles of your calf at regular and frequent intervals during travel. You can do this by

- whilst in your seat push the heel of your foot firmly into the floor and maintain this position for a few seconds before relaxing. Keep repeating this for a few minutes at regular intervals.

- whilst in your seat push your toes firmly into the floor until you are on tip-toes. Maintain this position for a few seconds before relaxing and then keep repeating for a few minutes at regular intervals.

- get up and walk around in the aisles for a few minutes every 30 minutes or so to stretch your legs.

Taking prescribed medication abroad

It is important that you take sufficient prescribed medication with you to last your holiday and a few extra days besides in case of delays. If you have any doubts check with the Embassy of the country that you intend to visit to make sure the drugs you intend to take are not restricted - most are ok but some drugs, particularly those which have the potential for abuse may be completely banned or else may require an accompanying doctors letter.

In addition to this:

1. Take all medications as it was originally dispensed - in the correctly labelled container

2. Take a copy of your repeat prescription slip to show that the medication was issued to you

3. In the case of medication which might attract suspicion or specific medical needs, take a doctors letter with you outlining your position (after confirming with the appropriate Embassy that this would be acceptable). We charge a fee for providing such a letter.

Fitness to travel

If you have any doubts about your fitness to travel then please book with a doctor to discuss this further.

All patients who travel abroad should ensure that they have adequate travel health insurance. You must declare any pre-existing health conditions - otherwise you may find that your entire policy is invalid and when you fall ill abroad you may be left liable for the entire costs of healthcare.

Things to take with you when you travel

As well as your passport we recommend that you take the following with you:

-Form E111 if travelling within European Economic Area Countries

-Yellow fever certificate - if needed (this is compulsory in some countries)

-Enough medication to last your entire journey and a few more days besides

-Health insurance

-Emergency medical travel kit - if going to a country or area where sterile equipment cannot be guaranteed

-First aid kit - plasters, bandage, antiseptic cream, insect repellant

-Diarrhoea treatments

-Condoms - if you think you might need them (make sure they carry the Kite Mark). Remember that condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted illnesses, including HIV, but they do not completely eliminate the risk.