When to See Your GP Before a Trip

If you’re planning a holiday, chances are that you’re thinking of adventuring, exploring new places or winding down and relaxing. You may already be planning your outfits and making lists of packing essentials, local restaurants and beauty spots. Chances are that medical emergencies aren’t at the top of your mind – and we’d like to keep it that way.

Depending on your condition and where you’re planning to go, you may want to discuss possible destinations with your GP before you book. If you have a health condition, early planning with your GP can help ensure you stay healthy. Prevention is always better than cure, and a trip to the GP can help prevent unexpected medical issues ruining your well-earned break.

What Can a GP Help with Before Travelling?

If you have a long-term medical condition, there’s a good chance that you see your GP – and possibly your practice nurse or practice-based pharmacist – regularly. But depending on what your condition is, and where you’re thinking of going, your GP team also has numerous other roles:

Managing Your Medicines.

If you take regular medicines, it’s essential to have enough to last you for the length of your trip, as well as a week or two extra in case of loss or delays. You’ll need to know about airline regulations and whether any of your medicines are restricted or banned at your destination – you can find out more from our article on taking medication abroad.

Your practice-based pharmacist may be able to do a medication check before you go and issue repeat prescriptions. If any of your repeat prescriptions need renewing, make an appointment with your GP well in advance of your trip.

Considering Your Destination.

Most city breaks and European destinations are generally suitable for individuals with long-term medical conditions. However, if you have a condition that weakens your immune system - such as lupus, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or blood cancer - it's best to avoid remote locations or regions with a high risk of tropical diseases.

This advice also applies if you're undergoing treatments that suppress your immune system, such as chemotherapy for cancer or immunosuppressant medications for conditions like Crohn’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Prioritising destinations with accessible healthcare and manageable risks is key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip.

If you have a lung condition such as COPD, travelling to high altitudes could make your symptoms worse. So could areas with high levels of pollution, such as some cities (Delhi, Lahore, Dhaka, Beijing, to name but a few).  You may also need to consider avoiding high altitudes and major pollution if you have asthma which isn’t perfectly controlled. Your GP can advise on which destinations are safest for you.

Fit to Fly?

Some medical conditions can be made worse by flying at high altitude. You could also be at higher risk of medical complications such as deep vein thrombosis (a clot affecting the veins deep inside your calf, which can travel to your lungs and lodge).

You can fly if you’ve had some conditions in the past, but not if you’re currently affected – infections such as chicken pox or shingles, for instance. Some are time-limited – for instance, if you’ve had a recent collapsed lung, heart attack, stroke or TIA (sometimes called a mini-stroke).

For other conditions, whether you’re fit to fly depends on how severe your symptoms are. For example, if you have asthma or COPD but are getting few, if any, symptoms, you won’t routinely need an appointment with your GP.

However, if you’re getting wheezing or breathlessness on exercise, at night or in random situations, you should make an appointment with your GP several weeks before you travel. This will allow your GP to adjust your medication and see if your symptoms can be better controlled before you embark on your adventure.

For more details on which conditions you need to take into account, read our article on ‘Can I fly with my medical condition?’

Medical Letters

Depending on your condition, your airline may require a letter confirming that you’re fit to fly. Alternatively, you may need a letter confirming the medication you’re taking with you. Restrictions and rules can vary between airlines, so it’s always best to check with the medical department of the airline if you’re in doubt.

You can find out more about which conditions may need a fit-to-fly certificate from our article.

Preparing for Emergencies.

Whether it’s asthma, COPD, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus or something else, some long-term conditions get better and worse over time. Your GP may be able to offer you medication to carry with you in case of a flare-up. They can advise you on when to start taking the medicine and what other steps to take (including when to seek emergency medical help).

Time Zone Trials

If you have medication that needs to be taken at the same time every day, your GP can help you work out how to adjust your doses if you’re travelling across time zones. A good example of this is insulin for type 1 and sometimes other types of diabetes.

As a rule, you can continue with your usual injection times if the time difference is less than 4 hours. If you’re travelling west, where the clocks go back, you may need to add extra doses of insulin. If you’re travelling East, where clocks go forward, you may need to reduce or miss a dose.

Travel Vaccines

If you’re travelling anywhere outside Western Europe, the USA or Australasia, you’ll need to check whether you need travel vaccinations. Some vaccines, such as the Yellow Fever vaccine for some countries or the MenACWY vaccine if you’re going to Saudi Arabia on Hajj, are mandatory. Others are always recommended for some countries. Others still are only recommended in certain cases, such as if you’re going to come into contact with animals or are travelling to a remote location.

While your GP won’t be able to do these vaccines, your practice nurse may be offer them. Otherwise, many community pharmacies now offer private travel vaccines. Do note that you need to book an appointment at least 8 weeks before you travel: some vaccines need to be given as a course and take time to provide full protection. You may need to pay for travel vaccines through your GP surgery.

READ MORE: What Vaccinations Do I Need?

Malaria prevention

If you’re travelling to a high-risk malaria region, it’s essential to take medication to protect yourself. This will need to be started before you travel, and you’ll need to finish the course. These medicines aren’t available on the NHS, but your community pharmacist can advise which one is best for you and sell them to you. You can find out if the country you’re visiting carries a risk of malaria from Fitfortravel.

Which Conditions Do I Need a Pre-travel GP Appointment?

This is particularly important if you use insulin to control your blood sugar. Don’t forget that changes to your diet and exercise regimen can affect your blood sugar and insulin needs.

If you are travelling with insulin, you’ll also need a doctor’s letter about your medication and medical supplies. Head to our guide to travelling with insulin for more information on handling insulin while you’re away.

Chest Conditions

It’s crucial to have your COPD, asthma, or other chest condition well-controlled before you travel. Your GP can assess your symptoms and advise on changes to your medication that may be needed. They can also:

• Go through your COPD or asthma management plan.
• Provide an emergency supply of steroid tablets in case of flare-ups, if appropriate. Advice on the requirements for travelling with oxygen if you need it on your flight or while you’re away.
• If you do use oxygen, you’ll need to book an appointment at least 8 weeks in advance, so your GP can liaise with your care providers. You can find out more about travelling with oxygen from our article on holidaying if you have COPD.

Gut Conditions

If you have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, liver disease or other gut conditions, you may need to take extra precautions while you’re away. Make an appointment with your GP to get advice on:

• Whether you need an emergency supply of anti-diarrhoea medicines, steroid enemas, etc, for flares.
• Providing a doctor’s letter for the medication you need to carry with you.
• Advice on whether your medication could affect your immune function and what precautions to take.
• Advice about avoiding tummy bugs.

READ MORE: Top Tips for Travelling with IBS

Heart Health

If you’ve had a recent heart attack or heart surgery, or if you have heart failure or angina, it’s worth making an appointment with your GP before you travel. You may not be allowed to fly if your heart attack or heart surgery was very recent (within the last couple of weeks) or if you have angina pain at rest.

If you have high blood pressure, it’s worth getting it checked to ensure it’s controlled before you travel. You should be fine to travel if you have a pacemaker, but you’ll probably need a letter from your GP if you’re going through airport security.

Compromised Immune System

Whether you’ve had an organ transplant, are on chemotherapy or immunosuppressive medication or have a condition that affects your body’s ability to fight disease, have a GP check-up before you travel. They can advise on symptoms to look out for and steps to take to minimise the chance of infectious disease. They may also coordinate with your hospital medical team to check it’s appropriate for you to travel.

READ MORE: Travelling with a Compromised Immune System

Mental Health

Holidays are supposed to be fun, but they also carry uncertainty. Travel can be stressful and disruptive if you have anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or other mental health concerns.

Make an appointment with your GP to discuss your treatment plan and make sure it’s suitable for your needs while you’re away. They may also be able to advise on strategies to minimise the chance of your condition worsening and how to cope with unforeseen stresses. 

Pregnancy

If you’re well and your pregnancy is progressing normally, you should be able to fly up to 36 weeks into your pregnancy for short-haul flights and 32 weeks for long-haul. Check with your airline – their regulations do vary, and you’re likely to need a doctor’s letter confirming you’re fit to fly if you’re over 28 weeks pregnant.

They can also advise on alternatives to standard travel vaccinations, as some aren’t suitable if you’re pregnant.

READ MORE: Travelling when Pregnant

Travel Insurance for Pre-existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, the last thing you want is to be left to foot the bill for an unexpected trip to the hospital whilst away on holiday, from an unexpected flare-up. Costs can escalate quickly, especially if you are heading away to a destination like the USA or setting sail on a cruise.

Always make sure you are prepared and buy travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions as soon as you book your holiday. That way, you can ensure you and your peace of mind are protected should something happen before or during your trip.

READ MORE: When to Buy Travel Insurance

Travelling is an exhilarating way to create cherished memories, but thoughtful planning and prioritising your health are essential. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, consulting your GP can provide the reassurance and guidance you need for a stress-free journey.

Whether you’re discovering a new destination or unwinding by the ocean, securing the right travel insurance is key to enjoying true peace of mind. A little preparation goes a long way, allowing you to fully embrace every moment of your adventure.