How early is too early?

I am often asked how far in advance of a trip travellers should get travel advice. In general, my reply is 6-8 weeks before you go. However, this week I visited a school to start off the preparations for their trip to Nepal in July.

Why so early? Well it's likely these students will need a course of vaccines that should be given over months rather than weeks. I tend to find that for school trips, May to July are difficult months to schedule vaccines, with parents and students wanting to avoid any side effects interfering with important school exams. My advice to this group of travellers is to start several months in advance of the trip.

Other travellers that should consider getting advice at a much earlier stage are those that have existing health conditions. It can take a bit of time to liaise with other specialists which might be necessary before giving certain vaccines or anti-malarial tablets.   The clinic will very much appreciate the advance notice and can start the ball rolling. 

On a final note is it every too late?  No - it’s never too late.   Even at the last minute vaccines and advice can be very beneficial. 

Flu Facts

I can't believe that it is nearly October and that time of year when my fridge is full of flu vaccine.  You might not think of flu as the kind of vaccine that I give to travellers but for those going on for example a cruise or the religious pilgrimage to Hajj, I actively encourage them to get protected. 

For some people, catching flu can have very serious implications so the Department of Health provide a free flu vaccine for those: over 65 years, pregnant woman, individuals with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart, kidney, liver, neurological disease or a weakened immune system.  If you are entitled to have the vaccine on the NHS give serious thought to having it and what might happen if you didn't and caught flu.

I have no intentions of being off work sick for a fortnight with flu so I had my flu vaccine this week, as did the rest of the team.  We have all lived to tell the tale and although my arm was slightly red and tender it was nothing that stopped me doing anything that I normally would.  If like me you are not entitled to the vaccine on the NHS but want to avoid having flu then get in touch as we do have some doses available. 

There are lots of myths that surround the flu vaccine, the biggest one probably being that the vaccine gives you flu.  There is no live virus in the injection so you cannot get flu from it.  What is possible is that you can catch flu from someone before the vaccine has had time to protect you.  For that reason, you should get the vaccine as early as you can, before the numbers of people spreading flu creeps up.

The flu strains that circulate each winter change from year to year.  The vaccine  therefore changes each year. This years vaccine has the swine flu strain in it so you will be protected against it if you have the flu vaccine.

For more information see here.

The Travel Clinic

Tickets, Money, Passport, First Aid Kit

Following on from my last post and what to do if you get ill abroad, how many of us actually take a first aid kit with us when we travel?  I pride myself on the contents of my first aid kit but it was useless on our last holiday when my 4 year old got stung as it was left behind in the kitchen cupboard.

Accidents and injuries abroad are a very common reason for travellers needing medical help abroad so pack a kit and carry it with you.  It's of no use if it's left behind in the hotel room. 

You don't need to take a complete chemist shop with you but a well thought out kit will allow you to treat common injuries and illness.  Common things commonly happen so don't forget basic things like plasters, bandages and good old paracetamol. It's amazing how much better you can feel once you have taken some pain killers.

First aid kits can be bought pre-assembled or you can put your own kit together.  Please see the link for what to put in a first aid kit.

On that note, I am off to check my first aid kit is topped up for my holiday next week and not left behind in the cupboard!

What do you do if you are ill abroad?

Having spent the last week ill whilst on holiday got me thinking.  What would I have done had I not been in the North of Scotland and unable to access a GP as a temporary resident? Although vaccines are important to protect your health whilst abroad it is easy to forget that  accidents, injuries and common illness (in my case tonsillitis) are frequently the reason travellers need to see a doctor whilst abroad.

Travel insurance is vital. Shop around for your policy and declare all pre-existing conditions as this could be the very thing that you require treatment for.  There is little point having a policy that has excluded an existing illness.  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has some great information of travel insurance and some scary statistics on what you might have to pay should you have no insurance and end up requiring an air ambulance bring you home.  Remember that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are visiting Europe only entitles you to state medical treatment and a separate travel insurance policy is a must.  You don't need to pay a fee through an third party company for an EHIC card as it can be done for free via the NHS. 

If you are on a package holiday, hotels and tour reps can help you find a local doctor.  For those that are travelling independently contact your travel insurance medical help line and ask them for help in sourcing a doctor at your location.  For our travellers that are spending lengthy periods of time abroad on a work contract for example or have or have an exisiting condition, we suggest registering with a family doctor and be prepared in advance.  It is likely you will need to see a doctor at some point and if you do become ill you already know where you need to go for medical attention.  The last thing you want is to end up in an under resourced clinic where equipment may be re-used or not sterilised effectivley.  Many travellers choose to take with them sterile needle kits to ensure that any injections are clean and safe. 

Finally, I have put below a few resources that hopefully, you will never need but will be very glad of should you become ill abroad.

International Assistance for Medical Travellers Abroad (IAMAT) is a great resource.  Being a member provides access to their affiliated, licensed English speaking doctors throughout the world.  The

International Society of Travel Medicine also has a clinic directory where members can list their clinics.

The Blood Care Foundation is a charitable, not for profit organisation, registered in the United Kingdom in 1991. The Foundation operates a Blood Care Programme, which is designed to provide screened blood, in an emergency, to its members in any part of the world. 

Welcome to my Blog

It's day one of blogging for me.  Travel medicine I know but blogging . . . .  not so much.  As I get to grips with it, my blog will hopefully be a place where you can get an insight into what goes on at The Travel Clinic.  The clinic is a busy place and I know that people often wonder what I do and why a traveller would come and see me before their trip.  I'll be able to share with you some of the amazing itineraries, quandaries and dilemmas that crop up and perhaps answer some of your 'wonderings' along the way.

If there are subjects or specific areas  that you would like to see covered please get in touch and let me know.

Clare

Why Use the Travel Clinic at Glasgow Airport

So Welcome to The Travel Clinic Glasgow

I am keen to keep you updated with current travel information to keep you safe whilst you travel for business or pleasure.   Working closely with Companies, Doctor Surgeries and Travel Professionals we are the recommended choice for travel vaccinations.

So who am I?

I am Clare Henderson of the travel clinic Glasgow (the one in the middle of the picture)

My Qualifications:

I am a registered general nurse and have been nursing for 21 years .  I have been practicing travel medicine for the last 10 of those years.  I have undertaken extensive training in travel medicine and have an internationally recognised and highly specialised  diploma awarded by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow).  In fact all of our team here at Glasgow Airport have also completed and been awarded this diploma. 

So Why use the Travel Clinic Glasgow?

Well it's simple...

• You receive advice from a professional that is extensively trained in travel medicine  
• Our appointments are 30 minutes in length (longer for more complicated itineraries) 
• Our advice is specific to your trip and not a generalised recommendation
• We have an extensive stock of vaccines and anti-malarial medication 
• We can administer vaccines and anti-malarial tablets at the initial visit (so no need to have several appointments)
• It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain vaccines on the NHS and GP surgeries as often they  require that you see them several weeks in advance of a trip
• The vaccines that are available on the NHS are limited and the majority of travel vaccines will need to be obtained privately 
• We can accommodate appointments at short notice with evening and early morning appointments also being available.  
• We also provide reminders when vaccines boosters are due 
• An often overlooked but essential part of travel medicine is the advice that helps to protect your health when you are abroad  
• The majority of diseases and risks are not preventable by having a vaccine and a big part of a consultation with us is that we also provide information on how these risks can be minimised 

Some little extras:

We offer Free customer parking

You can keep in contact with us while you are abroad by email

We can attend a workplace to vaccinate

Group bookings are welcome

Vaccine record cards routinely provided 

So what are you waiting for?

Add us on twitter @travelclinic_

email me at clare@thetravelclinicglasgow.co.uk

We are keen to keep you safe....

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