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Do you need a doctor’s letter for your medication? What happens if your journey is delayed and you don’t have enough medication? And if you needed medical help while you were away, would you know where to go?
They’re easy things to overlook when you’re busy thinking about the more exciting parts of your trip. But when you’re travelling with a medical condition, a little extra preparation can make a big difference.
That’s why Dr Philippa Kaye, AllClear’s medical expert, shares practical advice to help you prepare when travelling with a medical condition. From speaking to your medical team and taking medication abroad to getting through airport security and knowing where to seek help, there are a few things worth considering before you set off.
What should you consider before travelling with a medical condition?
If you’re living with cancer or another pre-existing medical condition, your preparations will depend on your individual health needs, treatment and destination.
One of the first things to consider is whether you need to speak to your medical team before travelling. If you’re receiving ongoing treatment, they may be able to help you decide when it would be most suitable to travel or whether you need to make special arrangements.
As Dr Kaye explains:
“Everyone, irrespective of whether or not they have cancer or another health condition, needs to take this into consideration when they are planning a trip, and this includes declaring your health condition when applying for and buying Travel Insurance to ensure that your health needs will be covered when you are away.
Depending on where you are in your treatment, it is sensible to discuss any planning of trips with your medical team. For example, if you are having chemotherapy regularly, they may discuss a break, or move the timing of treatment in order to accommodate travel. Or they may be able to advise when in each treatment cycle you are likely to be feeling most well. It is also important to discuss any contraindications to travel, for example if you are able to fly or have other needs.
There are some situations where treatment will need to continue even when travelling, for example if you are on kidney dialysis, and plans will need to be made in advance of travel for this.
Be open and discuss with the health care professionals involved in your team. We know that trips and holidays matter and can be good for your health, and will try and advise you so that you can go! If your local GP does not offer travel advice, they may be able to direct you to a local travel clinic.”
The important thing is to consider your own medical needs rather than assuming that the advice for someone else with the same condition will necessarily apply to you.
What should you arrange before you travel?
Your health isn’t the only consideration. Your destination can affect the preparations you need to make too.
For example, you may need vaccinations for certain destinations. If you’re currently receiving treatment or taking medication, speak to your medical team about whether recommended vaccinations are suitable for you.
You should also think ahead about medication, documentation and how you would access medical help if you needed it.
Dr Kaye recommends:
“Depending on where you are travelling to, there may be specific preparations that you may be advised to take. For example, sometimes certain vaccinations may be advised before you travel and it will be important to check if you can have these if you are currently undergoing treatment.
You should ensure that you have enough supplies of any medication and, depending on the medication, in particular for any controlled drug medications, may need a letter or copy of your prescription proving that the medications you are carrying are for your personal use. When leaving the UK, it is sensible to check with the embassy of the country that you are travelling to about medications you are taking with you. Different countries have different legislation around this and some medications may not be allowed to be brought in.
Make yourself familiar with how to access medical support when abroad. For example, finding out relevant emergency numbers, the local A+E, how to access a doctor and more, in particular if you are not staying in a hotel which may be able to give some assistance.
If you know you will need treatment while you are away, this should be organised in advance.”
That last point can be particularly easy to overlook. Before you leave, save relevant emergency numbers and find out where you could access medical help near your accommodation.
If something happens, you won’t then be trying to work it out for the first time while you’re unwell.
Do you need a doctor’s letter to travel with medication?
Sometimes. The exact requirements depend on the medication you’re carrying and the country you’re visiting. Certain medicines, particularly controlled drugs, can be subject to different restrictions abroad.
That means medication that you routinely take in the UK shouldn’t automatically be assumed to be straightforward to take into another country.
Dr Kaye advises:
“You may need documentation around any medication, and you should check with your airline and the embassy of the country you are travelling to about if you can take the medication with you and how much you can take. Keep all medication in its original packaging and carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from the doctor about your medication. If your medication is a liquid over 100mls, please check with your airline and airports around this issue.”
If you do require supporting documentation, don’t leave arranging it until the last minute.
As Dr Kaye explains:
“If you are travelling with prescription medication, please take a copy of the prescription or a doctor’s letter with you. The exact requirements will depend on the medications you take and the country you are travelling to. Please note that your GP may charge to write this letter and leave at least 10 days before travel in order to give them time to produce a letter if needed.”
Check the rules for your destination and airline well before you travel. Keeping your medication in its original packaging alongside your supporting documents can also make it easier to explain what you’re carrying.
What happens if you’re delayed and run out of medication?
Delays aren’t always predictable. A cancelled flight, missed connection or unexpected extension to your trip could leave you away from home for longer than planned.
That’s why Dr Kaye recommends taking more medication than you expect to need.
Before leaving home, check that you have enough for the planned length of your trip plus extra for potential delays. You should also check the expiry dates of your medication.
Dr Kaye advises:
“Check you have sufficient supply and that the medication has not expired before you leave and take a few days extra of medication in case of delays. Keep your medication in your hand luggage, ideally splitting between hand luggage bags in case one goes missing.”
Keeping essential medication in your hand luggage also means you can access it throughout your journey and aren’t left without it if checked baggage is delayed or lost.
If you take medication at specific times, such as insulin, ask your medical team or pharmacist how to manage your routine while travelling, particularly if you’ll be crossing time zones.
How should you store medication while travelling?
Some medications need to be stored within a particular temperature range. That can create additional considerations if you’re travelling somewhere particularly hot or cold or have a long journey ahead.
Speak to your pharmacist before you leave and explain where you’re going, how you’re getting there and how long the journey will take.
Dr Kaye says:
“You should ask your pharmacist how your medication should be stored and discuss with them how you are travelling, the length of travel and storage facilities when you arrive. For example, some medications need to be kept refrigerated, but even those which don’t are likely to have maximum and minimum storage temperatures. As such, take advice, as you may be recommended to use cool bags or other devices to try and keep medication properly. It is also important if you have medication that requires refrigeration that you are aware whether or not a hotel room or other lodgings has a fridge in your room or one which can be easily accessed in case of emergencies.”
You should consider the whole journey, not simply the time you’ll spend on the plane.
She adds:
“This will depend on the medication and your local pharmacist will be able to advise further. There are cool bags which can keep medications at a certain temperature for a period of time, so information such as the length of your flight and more are important to know. Your airline may also be able to give advice as to whether or not they have access to equipment to help. This issue is not just for long plane flights but also for long train or car or other journeys!”
If your medication needs refrigeration, it’s also worth checking the facilities available at your accommodation before booking.
How can you make airport security easier with medication or medical equipment?
Carrying medication or medical equipment through airport security can require some additional preparation.
Keep your medication in its original packaging and bring any relevant prescription or doctor’s letter with you. If you’re travelling with liquids exceeding the usual airport limits, check the applicable rules with your departure airport and airline beforehand.
Dr Kaye recommends:
“Check that your medication can be transported at different temperatures with your pharmacist; for example, some medication needs to remain refrigerated and so may need to be kept in an insulated cool bag or with ice packs. Please discuss with your pharmacist how to carry medication.”
If you have a fitted medical device, tell airport security staff before going through screening and show any relevant documentation.
Travelling with oxygen may require further arrangements. Dr Kaye recommends contacting the airline before you book to check what is permitted. Your medical team may also need to provide additional information to the airline.
What should you consider before flying with a medical condition?
Before flying, check whether your condition or treatment could affect whether it’s safe for you to travel by air. Your medical team is best placed to give advice based on your individual circumstances.
Dr Kaye explains:
“Ensure that it is safe to fly! There is a list of conditions and rules around medical safety and flying; perhaps the most commonly known one is around not flying when you are heavily pregnant. These rules are in place for your safety; after all, there isn’t medical equipment or trained personnel on board, and you may be far in both terms of time and distance from urgent medical support if you are over an ocean.
Once you have been cleared as safe to fly, you should ensure that you have all your medication and any medical equipment that you need for the duration of the flight. Keep well hydrated and ensure that you keep moving, going for a little walk up and down the cabin or even just rotating your ankles and moving your legs.
Air travel is dehydrating, and you may notice that your skin and lips are drier during and after travel. If this is already a concern, perhaps due to chemotherapy side effects, then please take advice about how to manage this, for example with emollients.”
Your individual needs can vary considerably depending on your medical condition and treatment.
Would you know how to get medical help abroad?
Knowing how to get medical help is one of the most important things to research before travelling.
Find the relevant emergency number for your destination and look at what medical facilities are available near where you’re staying. If you’re travelling somewhere where you don’t speak the language, consider how you would communicate important information about your condition or treatment.
If you already have an emergency treatment plan in the UK, take a copy with you.
Dr Kaye says:
“If you have emergency plans in place in the UK, for example if you are having chemotherapy and are aware that if you develop a fever above a certain number you are supposed to take a particular antibiotic and then attend the clinic for blood tests and potentially more treatment, take all this information with you. Even if it isn’t in the same language as that spoken where you are travelling to, it can be translated and helpful.”
Having relevant information available could help healthcare professionals abroad understand your condition, medication and the instructions you’ve already been given.
How can you stay healthy while you’re abroad?
Alongside managing your medical condition, remember the everyday health risks associated with your destination These can vary considerably depending on where you’re travelling and the time of year.
Dr Kaye explains:
“This will depend on where you are in the world; for example, different countries vary from having safe drinking water to not. Country-specific advice can be sought, but essentially it is important to watch out for common travel-related issues. In hot climates these include sunburn, heat stroke and heat exhaustion, dehydration, sometimes insect bites and mosquito-borne illnesses, while in cold climates hypothermia is more of a risk if you aren’t wrapped up warmly. Take any required medication, keep well hydrated and listen to your body when it tells you to rest!”
Following destination-specific health advice, keeping hydrated and allowing yourself time to rest can all form part of looking after yourself while you’re away.
Is a GHIC enough when you have a medical condition?
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can be valuable when travelling to eligible destinations, but it doesn’t replace comprehensive Travel Insurance.
Dr Kaye explains:
“The GHIC covers health emergencies in certain countries, not all. This is an agreement between the UK and the country that the UK will pay for emergency health-related costs, for example if you need emergency surgery for appendicitis. However, this is not the same as comprehensive Travel Insurance and won’t fund treatment in a private hospital nor repatriation back to the UK. The NHS recommends that you have both a GHIC card and comprehensive Travel Insurance for travel.”
Check where your GHIC is valid before travelling and make sure you understand what it does – and doesn’t – provide.
Why a medical condition doesn’t necessarily mean giving up travel
For Dr Kaye, this subject has a personal as well as a professional significance. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 39 and has written about experiencing healthcare as both a doctor and a patient in Doctors Get Cancer Too.
Drawing on her own experience, Dr Kaye says:
“As a cancer patient myself, it feels like cancer comes for every part of your life, from your work to your home life and that your whole job sometimes is being a patient. And we all need a rest sometimes! Travel is important to so many people, and a change of environment can be helpful in managing stress and helping you relax and heal.
There may be additional challenges to travel, but your medical team is not solely looking after your cancer; rather, they are looking after you, as a whole person, and will try to give advice and support as to how you can travel safely and enjoy your time out there. Tell your team and ask for help!”
Travelling with a medical condition can involve extra planning, but you don’t have to work everything out by yourself. Your medical team, pharmacist, airline and Travel Insurance provider can all help you understand what you need before you go.
Don’t leave your Travel Insurance until the last minute
As Dr Kaye puts it:
“Travel Insurance is more than just peace of mind; it means that you know that you will not have potentially large bills related to any required medical treatment.
Don’t forget to buy your Travel Insurance the day you book your travel and not the day of your travel, as it may cover you if the trip needs to be cancelled for medical reasons!”
A little preparation before you leave can help you feel more confident about managing your medical needs while you’re away – leaving more time to enjoy the trip itself.
