This policy outlines the procedure for patients travelling abroad for short and long periods of time.

NHS Policy

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK. In addition GPs are not required by their terms of service to provide prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that is not present and may arise while the patient is abroad.
The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should the find an alternative supply of that medication.

Patients residing abroad for a period of more than 3 months should be removed from the registered patient list.

Llanfyllin Practice Policy

Travelling out of the country for less than 3 months

For patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes…)for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so. Drugs that require frequent monitoring may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns. 1 months supply only will be issued for drugs normally available over the counter, such as paracetamol. Please allow at least 7 days’ notice in order for us to prepare these medication for you and deal with any issues arising.

Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months

Patients who inform us they will be leaving the country for more than 3 months will be prescribed sufficient medication to enable them to make alternative arrangements at their destination (up to 3 months supply where safe to do so). They will also be removed from our patient list. We will be pleased to re-register patients on their return to residence in the UK and can reassure patient that their electronic notes are kept on file for reference on your return. Patients and relatives should not seek medication for themselves while they are abroad as this constitutes NHS fraud.

Prescriptions for medicines in case of illness while abroad.

GP’s will only prescribe NHS prescriptions in this case for exacerbations of pre-existing illnesses. Eg antibiotics for patients who have frequent infections secondary to an underlying lung condition.
GPs may provide private prescriptions if it is clinically appropriate and they can be self-administered safely without medical assessment while abroad. These prescriptions are not free.
Patients should be aware that some drugs commonly prescribed in the UK may be illegal in certain countries and you should check with that countries embassy before you travel.

Requests for letters

If you require a letter from the practice confirming your current medication (for example for customs and immigration purposes), then please note that there will be a charge payable of £25 per letter. This is considered to be non-NHS work and so is chargeable as a private service. A request for a travel letter may take up to 5 working days to process.

We are able to provide patients with a copy of their current repeat prescription without charge, and this can usually be supplied straightaway. Please note that this must be requested in person by the patient at the surgery (unless there is consent in place for another person to discuss their medical care on their behalf).

See NHS facts of travel abroad

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1755.aspx?CategoryID=73&SubCategoryID=105
https://www.gov.uk/travelling-controlled-drugs
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-my-medicine-abroad/

Have you forgotten to bring enough of your usual repeat medication with you whilst staying away from home, or had to stay here longer than expected?

Please take prompt action as soon as you realise and do not leave it until it becomes urgent. If you are away from your own practice area and need your regular medication, you should:

• Contact the GP surgery where you are registered in your home town or city and request that they post a prescription to you or a nearby pharmacy.
• If the request is urgent, your surgery may fax a prescription to a pharmacy, but please check with the pharmacy first, as pharmacies are not permitted to dispense certain medicines (controlled drugs) against a faxed prescription.
• Alternatively, a prescriber at your own practice may request a local pharmacy to undertake an emergency supply at the request of a prescriber. This will allow you to collect medication at the pharmacy in advance of the prescription being sent. This method cannot currently be used to supply controlled drugs.
• If you own surgery are unable to help, visit a local pharmacy for advice, as certain medication you are taking may be available without prescription. If you need non-prescription medicines such as paracetamol, antihistamines or an antacid and you can't find an open pharmacy, then supermarkets, newsagents and petrol stations usually stock a basic range of over-the-counter medicines.
• If you are registered with a GP in Wales, 95% of pharmacies in Powys are able to view a patient’s Welsh GP Record for the purposes of providing an emergency supply of medication at the request of a patient.
• In most cases, the pharmacist will need to interview you in person before any supply can be made and where considered appropriate, can provide a supply of medication without a prescription, at no charge to you.
• Controlled drugs cannot be supplied in this way, and a legal and valid prescription is required (provided by the patient’s own practice, or a local prescriber).
• Please note that emergency supply service may not be available at all times, particularly where pharmacies are operating reduced opening times or with non-standard staffing. Confirming by phone in advance of visiting the pharmacy is advisable.

• If you have tried all of the above unsuccessfully or are not registered with a Welsh GP, then speak to us and we will do what we can to help. We will need to obtain details of your current repeat medication from one or more of the following:
  • A medication summary from your registered practice; or
  • A current repeat medication request slip; or
  • Information provided by your usual community pharmacy.
• We will review that the information is up to date, and that a supply of the requested medication is required and clinically appropriate. If this is the case, we can issue one or more prescriptions for you (or your representative) to collect from the practice or from a local pharmacy. Please be aware that our usual timescale for generating prescriptions is 72 hours (3 working days), but it may be longer in this type of case.
• If the surgery is closed, then please contact 111 for advice.