Next week I am going on holiday to Scotland and have read levels of infection are high there .l have CLL not on active treatment and as yet have not had Covid. If I caught the virus there what is the procedure to be able to have anti viral medicine if I needed them?
Is this post locked? Maybe unlocked that's why no replies?
Gosh--not sure. I have lived in the UK for 52 years (originally from Canada) and as a result, we get a lot of overseas visitors who, of course, always have Health Insurance. If they are ill, we send them to our GP who takes their Insurance details and then has given them the same service as we get on the NHS.
However, you may or may not be visiting someone who has a GP to whom you could go. Therefore, I guess it would be best to go the A and E at the nearest hospital. Curious what others in the UK on this group think?
As you will have read, even those of us who live here have had a mixed experience getting antivirals.
I am on Watch and Wait but mine was VERY easy--my GP notified the local hospital who contacted me immediately, approved them. I was then phoned by hospital pharmacy who checked out that they wouldn't interfere with any other medication I was taking and got them couriered to me.
Make sure that you wear a high quality mask any time you are with others!!!! With luck you won't get Covid! I am assuming that you are well vaccinated.
ENJOY SCOTLAND!
Hi Fiona, Sorry I have no advice re getting anti-virals in Scotland - hopefully someone else can advise you.
Just wanted to say that hubby and I had a wonderful holiday in Scotland at the start of this month. We were very Covid aware and avoided indoor shared spaces. When we ate out, it was our own sandwiches, or a place that provided outdoor seating/eating areas.
We stayed near Loch Lomond but it wasn't crowded so it was easy to avoid other people. Sadly we decided not to go for a boat trip on the loch, as we watched people gathering around the jetties when a boat was due, and the boats became quite full.
We had a wonderful time exploring new paths, going up small hills, chatting to friendly people (at a bit of distance) whom we met outdoors. We never caught Covid. Photo below is of hubby one evening by Loch Lomond.
Wishing you a wonderful and Covid free time in Scotland too.
It is quite a quandary isn’t it? I wish I had an easy an answer for you but I don’t. Healthcare systems all over the world seem stretched and thus difficult to access from the outside. JEEA’s advice was interesting and makes a lot of sense. That being if you are visiting friends/family they can help you navigate the complexity of a local healthcare system. Short of that it seems like a crap shoot.
The only useful suggestion I have is maybe your doctor can prescribe a Covid antiviral to take with you in case you become infected? It’s worth asking the question.
Good Luck,
Mark
I’d suggest ringing 111 in the event of that happening Fiona. They operate in Scotland and you will be assessed, given advice and directed to the local service that can help you best.
Have a lovely time.
Newdawn
I’m on day 7 of Covid - have had 4 jabs and so far I’ve been extremely lucky with mild symptoms (I was diagnosed nearly 9 years ago and still on Watch & Wait). I got a call from my hospital who concluded that since I seem to be coping well, I don’t need antivirals. I also contacted my GP a couple of months ago to see if they would prescribe antivirals for me to take on holiday to Italy at that time. They refused, on the grounds that only around 1/4 of patients who qualify for antivirals actually end up getting them! Good Luck with your trip to Scotland and I’m sure the nearest A&E department would advise you in the unlucky event you get Covid. But I’m the meantime, enjoy your break!
Thank you I intend to keep safe not as yet had Covid although work in Hgh School high levels and low vacation take up.
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