If you’re planning to travel outside the UK, your travel health needs will depend on your individual situation. This includes: your destination, how long you’ll stay, what you’ll be doing, and your general health.

You can access information on what vaccinations are required, together with malarial and safe travel advice at Fit for Travel. 

All travel vaccations are now provided through the vaccination service clinics at Ayrshire Central Hospital, Ayr Hospital, and Crosshouse Hospital.

Travel health risk assessment

If you think you require vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional.

A travel health risk assessment is also recommended for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets aren’t required. This includes: older people, those with weakened immune system, those with long term conditions, pregnant women and children.

In most cases you should arrange a travel health risk assessment at least 8 weeks before you travel. This gives time for any vaccines you might need to become fully effective.

If your trip is sooner, remember it’s never too late to get advice.

To Make a Travel Clinic Appointment

To make an appointment for travel vaccinations, please visit the www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk website for information, and click on the ‘Before You Travel’ link on the left side of the page. From there you will be taken to the Ayrshire and Arran vaccination hub where you can get details about how to make an appointment.

If any travellers do not have internet access they can phone the NHS Inform Helpline on 0800 224 488 for further advice.

Alternatively, you can visit a private clinic for a risk assessment, advice and other travel vaccines.  A list of private clinics is available via the vaccination hub website.

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.”