General medical travel advice

It is important to consider what insurance you need before booking flights and holidays. If you are travelling outside the UK you should always take out travel insurance to cover the costs of medical care if you are injured or become unwell while you are away, including the costs of getting home.

Sometimes travel insurance is provided with a bank account or credit card. Make sure that you read the policy conditions (including the 'small print') to make sure that you have the right cover to meet your needs. Most policies require you to make an annual declaration of your health in order for you to be properly insured.

Declare your medical history

You must almost always tell your insurer about existing medical conditions to be covered for them. You must also disclose any changes to your health during the policy term. If the insurer does not ask you about any pre-existing conditions that you have, the condition is almost certainly not covered by the policy.

Medical treatment in Europe and the European Health Insurance Card

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay. The UK GHIC has replaced the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have an existing EHIC you can continue to use it until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you'll need to apply for a UK GHIC to replace it. If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can choose to apply for a new UK EHIC rather than a UK GHIC, though neither are a replacement for travel insurance.

Similar health agreements exist in other countries, (for example Australia), as well as some British Crown dependencies such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

If you are travelling abroad, you may need vaccinations when visiting certain countries.

You should make an appointment with your GP or Practice Nurse and advise them of your trip in order that an appropriate vaccination schedule may be carried out in a timely manner.

It is important that you give specific details of the areas that you are visiting, along with the time of year that you are planning to travel and the duration of your trip.

Every year approximately 2,000 British travellers return home with malaria and the UK is one of the biggest importers of malaria among industrialised countries.

The most severe form of malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) is on the increase amongst British travellers and in 2006 approximately 80% of travellers returning to the UK with malaria had this most deadly form. An average of nine British travellers die each year from malaria, which is a preventable disease.

A simple approach to malaria prevention is called the ABCD :

A: Awareness of risk
B: Bite reduction
C: Commence preventative medication before travel
D: Diagnose and treat promptly if prevention fails

It is essential that you visit your GP, Practice Nurse or Travel Clinic to discuss your precise travel plans as the drugs used for prevention vary depending upon the area visited. When the appropriate drugs are taken, these are between 90 and 100% effective when used in conjunction with the advice above.

Should you feel unwell on return from a malarious area, it is essential that you seek urgent medical advice and give full details of the areas that you have visited on your travels to the health care professional.

Further information may be found at:

• NHS - Fit For Travel