What is a travel clinic?
Have you booked a holiday aboard? Is it somewhere exotic, off the beaten track? If yes, you may need specialist advice, vaccinations, and possibly medications before you leave. A travel clinic can provide these for you. They can help protect you from preventable diseases and remain healthy— along with other health advice for pre and post-travel.
Did you know? If you fall ill from a vaccine-preventable disease whilst abroad without having the necessary vaccinations beforehand, it could invalidate your travel insurance policy. For example, Admiral Travel Insurance (see the policy summary booklet).
See also: What Jabs You Need When Travelling Abroad
What does it provide?
A travel vaccination clinic offers bespoke travel health consultations, to ensure you are getting the highest protection for your individual needs whilst travelling. The specialist nurse will undertake a risk assessment at your appointment. They take into account your medical history in line with your itinerary and the destination of travel. Their advice includes vaccinations, medicines, travel kits, travel accessories, and preventative health care advice.
Why choose a travel clinic?
Travel clinics frequently offer same or next-day appointments. Some GP surgeries also offer a varied range of vaccines, but may have longer waiting times. Some may require you to wait between 2-8 weeks for an appointment and nurses. Although knowledgeable, they are not always a specialist in the subject of travel medicine.
Nurses at a travel vaccination clinic specialise in travel health. They have undergone dedicated training in tropical diseases and medicines, giving you the best and latest health advice for your holiday. While some pharmacists now offer some travel vaccinations, many may not be trained to a high level in travel health medicine pre and post-travel.
Lastly, travel clinics stock a comprehensive range of travel vaccines, including the yellow fever vaccine, which may not be available at some GP surgeries.
See also: Family Holidays: Top Tips for Travelling with Kids
What makes London Travel Clinic different?
Regulated and approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), all doctors and nurses at London Travel Clinics are UK-registered. They have over 150 years of combined experience and receive regular training specifically around travel health and vaccinations. The team has a genuine interest in travelling and strive to provide the highest quality of care for each and every individual they see. Our nurse advisors discuss aspects of health, disease, and hazards likely to be encountered at your overseas destination. They also ensure the information given to you is current, accurate, and easily understood.
You can choose from over 16 clinics across London, with evening and weekend appointments available at selected locations for your convenience. You can book an appointment online or via phone. We make it our mission here at London Travel Clinic to fight disease and save lives, ensuring prevention and treatment are easy, accessible, and safe for all.
So remember, if you have booked a holiday aboard, particularly if it’s somewhere exotic, off the beaten track, you may need specialist advice, vaccinations, and possibly medications before you leave.
See also: Your Guide To Travelling As A Senior
Waiting to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19)
The UK government is working to ensure British people travelling abroad can return to the UK as soon as possible. Due to border closures and the restrictions in some countries, you may be in a location where you are currently unable to travel back to the UK.
This page provides guidance about how to stay safe and get the support you may need in the country you are in.
If you cannot currently return to the UK:
- Follow the advice of local authorities, including local measures to help minimise your risk of exposure to coronavirus
- Find accommodation that is suitable for your needs
- Check your visa, if you have one for the country you’re in. If it is due to expire, visit our travel advice and read the ‘staying during coronavirus’ section. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has negotiated with local authorities in some countries to automatically extend visas if you cannot return
- Contact your travel insurance provider to check your health cover. Most providers will look to extend single trip cover for up to 60 days if you are making every effort to return home
- Read our travel advice of the country you’re in, in particular the ‘staying during coronavirus’ and ‘return to UK’ sections
- Sign up to email alerts for the country where you are, so you are notified of any updates
- If you need urgent consular help, contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.
