Travel Health Service
Our NHS Travel Health Service offers travellers essential risk assessment, guidance, and vaccinations before starting their journeys.
Many individuals travel abroad for a holiday, to work, study or live. There are always risks associated with travelling. The most common destinations for UK travellers are considered low risk, but specific advice, vaccinations or additional protection might be necessary if travelling to certain destinations.
Travellers should start planning and arranging advice and vaccinations at least 8 – 12 weeks before their departure date, as some vaccines require more than one dose.
Certain vaccinations (Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Cholera and Polio) are available at no cost to a patient, but other vaccinations we have to charge for.
As a chargeable service, we can also supply anti-malarial medication and treatments for period delay and altitude sickness. The pharmacist will be able to advise you further.
We ask that you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website to understand any risks and recommendations associated with your destinations. Fit for Travel is a free, interactive, publicly accessible site providing up to date health information to the UK public on avoiding illness and staying healthy when travelling abroad. The website has specific advice by destination on:
- Health risks
- Vaccinations required
- Country specific alerts
- General travel advice, including guidance about air travel, breast/bottle feeding abroad, staying safe in the sun, cruises and personal safety.
Complete health questionnaire
If, after reviewing the Fit for Travel site, you identify there may be risks associated with your destinations and you need expert advice, you will need to complete a health questionnaire. This form captures:
- Your personal details
- Your medical history
- Your planned destination(s), and activities
- Your vaccination history
The pharmacist will want to review your vaccinations history as part of your travel health consultation to confirm your primary courses and boosters are up to date. You can contact your GP, let them know you are travelling abroad and require a copy of your vaccination history before completing the questionnaire.
Complete our online questionnaire here:
You can also collect a copy from one of our participating pharmacies.
Initial consultation with our pharmacist
You will have selected your pharmacy to receive your submission on completing the form. Our pharmacist will then review your health questionnaire and conduct a travel risk assessment. They will contact you to arrange an initial consultation in person, virtually, or on the phone.
The pharmacist will advise you on what vaccinations you require, which ones are provided free on the NHS and which ones you’ll have to pay for. They will also decide whether you need to take tablets to help prevent you from getting malaria. The pharmacist will discuss the next steps, including booking any follow up appointments to receive vaccinations that require multiple doses.
Attend any follow-up appointments
If you require several vaccinations, your pharmacist will plan with you for you to attend on future dates, probably over several weeks.
Your pharmacist will card record all of the vaccinations they give to you, and this will be entered into your vaccination record and shared with your GP.
If you need to pay for any vaccines, you will need to pay the pharmacist when you get your jab.
