Ive booked a week long holiday to Spain, the first holiday abroad in 4 years. Im defo going to prepare with my usual meds but Im just worried about catching covid - does GP’s prescribe antivirals to us when travelling because of our conditions. My sister and her family have just returned from Spain and they all have covid! Im taking some anti-biotics with me as well just incase, but just wondering re the antivirals? I know its a whole referral process in the nhs when high risk patients test positive to get the anti-virals, so I think my chances to get them as precautionary measure would be very slim.
Any advice much appreciated as always 🌸
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Shann07
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Wear an FFP2 mask when travelling and surrounded by Brits - because that is the most likely time to pick up Covid, on the plane! And medical care in Spain is probably better than the UK so make sure you know how to use your healthcare card and insurance. I assume you have your GHIC?
Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes Ive just received my GHIC card, thats very reassuring re Spains medical care. Ive heard alot that the plane is most likely place to catch covid, so Im gonna take your advice and order a mask! Im such a nervous flyer 🙈too! But Ive 2 kids & husband and my health conditions have always stopped me from travelling through fear. So Im trying to put them first this time and finally enjoy a family holiday.
I like to drive - I can control who I have contact with that way!! Drove from northern Italy to Scotland at the end of June, will do the reverse in early September. Just go back to the sort of precautions that were common during the height of the pandemic - masks and handwashing DO make a difference.
Wow I'm impressed! Well done going that distance. I've not driven for years due to pain in neck and arms and now in legs. Plus fatigue (energy enough to drive somewhere but probably not get back!). Wish I could get my confidence back as driving again would open up the world. That and the mobility scooter v.power chair which I am still researching.
No….an NHS GP will not prescribe any drugs “just in case” to take abroad when you don’t have any need for them right now. NHS prescriptions are usually only prescribed to take abroad when they are already being prescribed for an ongoing condition….like DMards.
Please don’t just start taking anti biotics without taking medical advice…they only work on Bacterial infections….& Covid is a Viral infection …so they won’t help …. see a doctor in the unlikely event you fall sick.
You must make sure your travel medical insurance covers all Covid related conditions…& have what used to be called the European Health Insurance card…it’s free,& you can apply for it on line…can’t remember what it is called now…but just google EHIC.
I had antibiotics when I had Covid last year. I got a nasty chest infection, coughing up green yellow gunk.
I have been prescribed rescue packs before when travelling abroad - a steroid rescue pack of 30mg pred for 5 days. I’ve also been prescribed preventative antibiotics with instructions how and when to use.
Your antibiotics on that occasion would have been prescribed for the chest infection which was presumably a bacterial infection.
The steroid pack was presumably something you had needed before & ditto the anti biotics.
But as I said…NHS GPs are not allowed to prescribe “just in case,” holiday meds.Imagine how the cost of prescriptions would increase…..everyone & his mother would be “down the doctors,” to get their holiday meds!
I do understand the distinction between viral and bacterial. People do get bacterial infections as a result of the original viral infection.
GPs will prescribe preventative medication for travel. Obviously on a case by case basis. In our cases, to prevent serious illness abroad where it may not always be easy to access emergency healthcare and where delay may cause harm.
It isn’t true that GPs won’t point blank prescribe any preventative medication for international travel. My own experience is evidence of the contrary.
I think this explains what I was trying to say…the last line says it all.
The GMC advises that doctors are not obliged to provide treatment if they do not consider it to be of overall benefit of the patient even if asked by the patient to do so. Doctors should explain their reasoning to the patient, and explore other options, including the right to a second opinion.It would therefore be helpful to explore the patients’ concerns, and explain why the prescribing of ‘just-in-case’ antibiotics might not be in their best interests..
It could also be difficult to anticipate what other medications or treatments that the patient might take whilst abroad, and what interactions these may have with a ‘just-in-case’ antibiotic, for example, over the counter anti-malarials or pain relief.
There will of course be cases where it may be appropriate to prescribe medications in advance of a trip abroad but these are few and far between, and each case needs to be considered carefully on an individual basis. A doctor needs to remember that he or she should be prepared to justify the reasoning behind that decision.
I would be most surprised if you can get covid antiviral meds prospectively/proactively from any U.K. GP!?😱😨
Take my case!
Had a cataract op last December. Most definitely caught covid from the eye surgical team: was horizontal for 45 minutes with as you know the eye surgeons breathing in your face with my eye anaesthetised and prised open. Despite being doubly masked up, the next day I suffered persistent coughing with huge amounts of phlegm, headache etc. Feeling most unwell!
Tested myself with LFT:result: positive for covid (first time ever)!
Rang GP. Told to ring 111.
111 told me to ring GP again because he/she had to fill in an online special form. Waited and waited,🙄😳
Could not get through 1 week before Christmas despite ringing the practice at least 7 times.
In desperation rang my local general hospital. Had to explain my clinical vulnerability. Could hardly speak due to extremely painful sore throat! 😱
Put through to the covid/antiviral ward. 3 days later consultant doctor prescribed me a course of potent antiviral capsules for starting IMMEDIATELY!
With covid antiviral meds you must start them within 3/4 days of being infected for optimal efficacy!👆Pity that the GP service did not know this.🙄
Was too ill to pick the antiviral meds myself from the ward but luckily had a goodly and godly neighbour.👍👏 Exhausted and bedridden.
I’m still disgusted with the GP practice and their attitude and complacency that if I was at death’s door I would avoid them and rather ring 111/hospital in the first instance.
I went through this prior to a trip abroad in May ( the worry that is). I think your best bet is to make sure you have really good travel insurance so you can go to a private hospital. Take some detailed documentation from a consultant which lists your health conditions and meds. They do have Paxlovid in Europe so that should ensure you are eligible. Hopefully no need to use them. I even went so far as to speak to someone at a clinic in Portugal and that’s what they said to do. In the end not needed so I can’t prove it would have worked. You could also post a question on Trip advisor in case anyone has had that experience in Spain.
I doubt your GP would prescribe anti virals, mine didn’t even prescribe during the pandemic, you had to call a special number to get them. I was lucky I didn’t need them. I’ve been abroad a few times and honestly very few people wear masks on the plane. I was wishing I had one with me in May as the man behind me coughed the whole flight. I would definitely wear one on plane and clean the table etc just to make you feel safer, I will be doing that next month when I go away. You have to put it at back of your mind or you won’t enjoy your holiday, remember you will be outside most of the time, just relax and enjoy your holiday. Take care xx
Thank you everyone for the reassurance. Ive secured medical insurance with AllClear, expensive enough but cheaper than Staysure. I will be sensible using good hand hygiene and wearing a mask on the plane! Trying to just enjoy the holiday and relax now lol 🌞 Thanks again everyone you are all so helpful and kind x
I just wanted to add that my GP provided me with a private prescription for Paxlovid which only cost £11 at the pharmacy. GP has also done a private prescription for antibiotics which cost £12.
I feel much greater peace of mind having these especially going to North America.
I also have extra supplies of my current prescriptions.
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