With the summer holidays underway, a leading Cheshire GP has offered her top tips to help holidaymakers stay well abroad (and ensure their time in the sun is stress free!)
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Dr Julia Huddart, clinical lead for urgent and emergency care at NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG, said that a visit to the pharmacy should be part of everyone’s pre-holiday preparations.
She points out that stomach upsets affect between 20 per cent and 60 per cent of people travelling abroad.
Dr Huddart commented: “A trip to the resort’s pharmacy can be prevented by visiting one at home before you go, to make sure you’ve got basic diarrhoea or indigestion tablets at hand in case you need them.”
She added that patients requiring repeat prescriptions for long-term conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or a heart problem) should get their prescriptions made up before travelling abroad as some continental pharmacies do not have access to the same medication as their UK equivalents.
She suggested taking a few minutes to talk to the pharmacist and find out if a prescription was needed before travelling.
Dr Huddart advises packing a basic first aid kit of things like antiseptic, painkillers, bandages, plasters and antihistamines, plus insect repellent and sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15.
She said: “Your pharmacy can help with that and advise on the best things to take.”
If you want advice online, check the interactive first aid kit at www.nhs.uk.
“One last thing to check,” Dr Huddart added, “is the rules about types and quantities of medicines you are allowed to take into the country you’re visiting, as this can vary.”
Dr Huddart recommends that all holiday makers travelling in Europe should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – available free at www.ehic.org.uk.
This gives citizens access to state-provided healthcare in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including Switzerland, at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free.
It also covers treatment until the patient returns to the UK.
