Travel Vaccines are now provided by NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s new Travel Health Service. For vaccinations free through NHS provisions, previously offered by GP Practices, these will now be available through weekly general outpatient clinics at University Hospital Ayr, University Hospital Crosshouse and Ayrshire Central Hospital.
Please use the “Fit for Travel” link on this page to be signposted to the resident in Ayrshire & Arran contact details and instructions.
Fit for Travel
If you wish further information before you travel please click the link for Fit For Travel where further information can be obtained relating to your holiday/travel destination.
Healthy Travel Leaflet
You may find the following leaflet helpful when making your travel arrangements.
Malaria
Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. If it isn’t diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be fatal.
A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected.
Please download our useful leaflet on Mosquito Advice
Hepatitis immunisation
Immunisation against infectious Hepatitis (Hepatitis A) is available free of charge on the NHS in connection with travel abroad. However Hepatitis B is not routinely available free of charge and therefore you may be charged for this vaccination when requested in connection with travel abroad
Private Travel Clinics
If you are unable to wait for our next available travel advice appointment, as advised by the reception staff, then you can attend any Private Travel Clinic (you can obtain these numbers in the Yellow Pages see link below i.e. type in “travel clinic” then “your area”, to display a list of clinics) charges will apply at these clinics.
Holidays and travel
Difficulties with travel can often be avoided by good planning – enabling you to avoid or overcome any problems so that you can enjoy your travels and have a stress-free break.
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.”
Where ongoing medical attention is not necessary, the patient may be given a private prescription.
