Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Medication and your journey

Carry your medication and letter in your hand luggage in case your checked on luggage goes missing, and store your medication in its’ original packaging.
Make sure you have all the medication you need in case of a delay in getting to your destination or getting back home.
If you plan to carry liquid medication which is more than 100ml you will need to get agreement from the airline and the departure airport. Also be prepared to verify the liquids by tasting them.
If your holiday destination is in a different time zone, you may find that you are taking your regular medications at awkward times. You may wish to gradually adjust the times that you need to take these to fit in with the local time. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you to plan how to make this adjustment.
If you are unsure whether you are allowed to take your medications into a country you can check with their high commission or embassy.

See our separate section on travelling with oxygen.

Medications – before you travel

Make sure that you take enough of your regular medicines to last for your whole trip. If you have regular medication delivered in a Dosette box let the GP /Pharmacist know of your plans so that arrangements can be made in advance.
If you have ‘rescue medication’ take that with you in case you have a flare-up.
If you have medication by injection for example insulin or an Epipen you must include this in your GP letter and inform cabin crew so they can safely dispose of used needles. You must be able to self inject as cabin staff will not normally do this.
Ask your doctor to provide a letter describing your medical condition and medication. This is useful should you become unwell abroad. If you are travelling by plane it will also be required by airport security.
If you have medication by injection for example insulin or an Epipen you must include this in your GP letter and inform cabin crew so they can safely dispose of used needles. You must be able to self inject as cabin staff will not normally do this.

Helpful information to include in the letter is:

Your name and address
Your date of birth
Your dates of travel in and out of the country
The country you are visiting
The medicines you are taking, including the doses and the total amounts The trade names of some medicines may vary from country to country, so it helps to record the drug (generic) names of your medicines, as well as the trade (brand) names.

Travel outside the European Union

Some countries outside Europe have an agreement to provide emergency medical treatment to people from the UK. You will be treated in the same way as a resident of the country you are in, although this may not cover all the things you would get for free on the NHS.
The high commission, consulate or embassy of the country you are visiting should be able to give you information on the health care services available.
More information on this can be found at the Department of Health website.
There can be also be unforeseen costs of falling ill, for example living expenses and the cost of being flown back to the UK. These costs can also apply to your travel companion.

Information

It is very important that you have adequate private travel insurance. Make sure this will cover your lung condition and any other long term health problems.

In non EU countries you will have to pay the full cost of any healthcare that you have if you become ill.

Some insurance providers may ask you to have an assessment by one of their own doctors before they will give you insurance
Try to arrange your travel insurance before booking your holiday, just in case you get ill before you travel.
People who have a chronic illness can find travel insurance more expensive.
Companies are often reluctant to insure patients for travel to countries where healthcare is expensive, for example, the USA and Canada, or for trips that involve long flights, such as to Australia or New Zealand.

CHSS can provide information on sympathetic insurance companies that may be cheaper. For more information please see: Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland: Holiday Information [.pdf] and CHSS Travel and Motor Insurance

Travel within the European Economic Area

European Health Insurance Card entitles you to free or reduced-cost medical treatment in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. The EEA includes all European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The EHIC covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, because of either illness or an accident.
You will be able to access state-provided medical treatment in that country.
The treatment you receive will be the same as a resident of the country you are visiting.

Important

Other countries may not offer all the things you get free of charge from the NHS. You may still need to make a financial contribution or, in some countries, the full cost of your care.

The EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance.
You must take out a private travel insurance policy before you travel. Make sure this will cover your lung condition and any other long-term health problems.

The EHIC does not cover:

The cost of bringing you back to the UK.
The cost of private healthcare or services that are not part of the country’s healthcare system i.e. some European countries have private ambulance services and you will be charged for your journey to hospital.

Apply for your FREE EHIC card at: EHIC – European Health Insurance Card
You can also get forms from your local post office for your EHIC card.

Insurance

Try to arrange full travel insurance as early as possible before going away.
It is up to you to make sure that you inform the insurance company of your medical history and answer all their questions honestly. Check that your insurance policy covers all of your medical conditions. Withholding information may make your insurance invalid.
Insurance companies often charge more for people who have long term medical conditions as there is the increased risk that a claim may be made. This can make travel insurance expensive so give yourself time to shop around.
It is important to have travel insurance as it will protect you against having to pay huge medical bills if you are unwell or have an accident while abroad.
Take your insurance documents away with you, and keep them in a safe place. When travelling keep them in your hand luggage.
If you are planning to take more than one trip an annual travel insurance policy is often more cost effective.
If you are going on holiday in Europe you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to free or reduced cost medical treatment in certain countries if you fall ill when travelling in Europe. It is not a replacement for travel insurance.

CHSS cannot make any specific recommendations but does have contact details for companies known to be sympathetic to people affected by chest illness.

Accommodation

How do I choose my accommodation?
Think about whether the accommodation meets all your needs. In addition to your usual accommodation wish list consider:

The surroundings – will you need to climb a hill to get to it? Is it a remote location?
Does it have parking nearby?
Does it have stairs or a lift?
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Can it cater for people who require oxygen therapy?

Useful website – Tourism For All UK

Tourism for All UK is a national charity dedicated to making tourism welcoming to all. Their website contains information on a wide range of services and products that may be helpful when planning a holiday.
Euan’s Guide is the disabled access review website where disabled people, their families, friends and carers can find and share the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond.

Destination

Think about:

How far away are all the things you’d like to see and do? – how far are you willing or able to walk?
The terrain – is the resort very hilly or has lots of stairs?
Will you need to use public transport? Are there good links in the area you are going to?
What is the climate like? Are your symptoms made worse by very hot, cold or humid conditions?
What is the air quality like? Some large cities have a lot of pollution that may make your symptoms worse.
Remember destinations that are at high altitude can make you feel more breathless.

Are you fit enough to travel?

They can give you advice and information, as well as discussing any concerns you have.
Some people with COPD may need an assessment to check if they are fit to fly. There are a variety of ways in which a health care professional may assess whether you are “fit to fly”. It is useful to arrange this well in advance as some airlines limit the number of passengers who are allowed to use oxygen on board.
The airline may have their own medical paperwork which needs to be completed. This may involve some tests.
Not all airlines use the same paperwork or tests so it is important that you check this with them. Do this before you make a booking so that you can be sure that you will be allowed to fly.
Remember there are many places within the UK and Europe that you can visit without having to fly.

Things to consider before making a booking

Are you fit enough to travel?
What medications you need, and how they should be transported.
Do you need any vaccinations?
Do you have adequate travel and medical insurance?
Is your preferred destination & accommodation going to meet your needs?
How will you get there?
Do you need oxygen while away?
Have you considered possible additional costs?

Introduction

Holidays are a good way to spend time with friends and family, as well as unwind and relax.
Being able to take a holiday can have a big impact on your quality of life, whether staying in Scotland or going further afield.
Having a chronic lung condition should not stop you from going on holiday.
Planning ahead and letting your travel operators know about any special requirements can overcome many of the potential obstacles to getting away.