Booking an appointment for travel advice and vaccinations

Travelling overseas is very popular and it is often easy to forget the necessary precautions.  We offer a comprehensive service to ensure you are well protected when travelling.

You can collect a leaflet from reception or download the form below and fill in your travel details.

Once complete please return it to the surgery. The practice nurse will check your details and assess your individual requirements for the areas you are travelling to.  You will then be contacted and the appropriate appointments to ensure that you are immunised in sufficient time.

When you book your appointment we will require a £25 deposit per person, which can be used towards the cost of any vaccinations or preventative treatment required.  Any of this deposit not used, it will be refunded when you attend for your appointment.  Payment must be made by cash or cheque made payable to "The Wycliffe Medical Practice"..

To enusre that you are fully immunised for your holiday please return the completed format least 6 weeks before you travel.

Please note this service is only provided for patients at The Wycliffe Medical Practice

This information is designed to help you to stay healthy when travelling abroad.

Water

Diseases can be caught from drinking contaminated water, or swimming in it. Unless you KNOW the water supply is safe where you are staying, ONLY USE (in order of preference)
1. Boiled water
2. Bottled water or canned drinks
3. Water treated by a sterilising agent.
This includes ICE CUBES in drinks and water for CLEANING YOUR TEETH.

Swimming

It is safer to swim in water that is well chlorinated. If you are travelling to Africa, South America or some parts of the Caribbean, AVOID SWIMMING in fresh water LAKES and STREAMS. You can catch a parasitic disease called SCHISTOSOMIASIS from such places. This disease is also known as BILHARZIA. It is wise NEVER TO GO BAREFOOT, but to wear protective footwear when out, even on the beach. Other diseases can be caught from sand and soil, particularly wet soil.

Food

Contaminated food is the commonest source of many diseases abroad. You can help prevent it by following these guidelines:

Personal Hygiene

Many diseases are transmitted by what is known as the ‘faecal-oral’ route. To help prevent this, always wash your hands with soap and clean water after going to the toilet, before eating and before handling food.

Traveller's Diarrhoea

This is the MOST COMMON ILLNESS that you will be exposed to abroad and there is NO VACCINE AGAINST IT! Travellers’ Diarrhoea is caused by eating and/or drinking food and water contaminated by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Risk of illness is higher in some countries than others.
High risk areas include North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, S.E. Asia, South America, Mexico and the Middle East.
Medium risk areas include the northern Mediterranean, Canary Islands and the Caribbean Islands.
Low risk areas include North America, Western Europe and Australia.

You can certainly help PREVENT travellers’ diarrhoea by taking sensible precautions.
- make sure you follow the food, water and personal hygiene guidelines already given.
The definition of Travellers’ Diarrhoea is 4 or more loose stools in a 24 hour period often accompanied by stomach pain, cramps and vomiting. It usually lasts 2-4 days and whilst it is not a life threatening illness, it can disrupt your trip for several days.

The main danger if the illness is DEHYDRATION, and this, if very severe, can kill if it is not treated. TREATMENT is therefore REHYDRATION. In severe cases and particularly in young children and the elderly, commercially prepared re-hydration solution is extremely useful. This can be bought in tablet or sachet form at a chemist shop e.g. DIORALYTE or ELECTROLADE. (Dioralyte Relief is a formula containing rice powder which also helps to relieve the diarrhoea, particularly useful in children). Please read the instructions on the packet before using.

ANTI DIARRHOEAL TABLETS can be used for adults but should NEVER be USED in children under 4 years of age, and only on prescription for children aged 4 to 12 years. Commonly used tablets are IMODIUM and LOMOTIL.
None of these tablets should ever be used if the person has a temperature or blood in the stool.

SEEK MEDICAL HELP IF THE AFFECTED PERSON HAS:

In very special circumstances, antibiotics are used for diarrhoea, but this decision should only be made by a doctor.
(A woman taking the oral contraceptive pill may not have full contraceptive protection if she has had diarrhoea and vomiting. Extra precautions must be used - refer to your ‘pill’ information leaflet. If using condoms, use products with the British Kite Mark.)

Hepatitis B and HIV

These diseases can be transmitted by

Ways to Protect Yourself

Insect Bites

Mosquitoes, certain types of flies, ticks and bugs can cause many different diseases including malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever. Some insects bite at night, but some during daytime.

avoid being bitten by -