Have you recently booked a holiday to a tropical destination? If so, it’s likely that you will need some vaccinations, medications and specialist advice before you go. A travel clinic can provide these for you, along with other health advice for your trip. This will ensure you stay as healthy as possible, with protection from preventable diseases. Read our handy destination guides for more information.
If you don’t have the necessary vaccinations before travelling it could invalidate your travel insurance policy if you fall ill from a vaccine-preventable disease whilst abroad. For example, Admiral Travel Insurance (see the policy summary booklet).
What exactly is a travel clinic?
A travel vaccination clinic offers bespoke travel health consultations, to ensure you are getting the optimal protection for your individual needs whilst travelling abroad. At your appointment, the specialist nurse will undertake a risk assessment taking into account your medical history in line with your travel destination and itinerary, before recommending the best options for you. This can include vaccinations, medicines, travel kits, travel accessories and preventative health care advice, which will be provided during the same appointment whenever possible.
Why choose a travel clinic?
With a private travel clinic, you can often get a same or next day appointment. Whilst some GP surgeries offer a varied range of vaccines, you may have to wait sometimes 2-8 weeks for an appointment and nurses, although knowledgeable, are not always specialist in the subject of travel medicine.
Nurses at a travel vaccination clinic specialise in travel health, where they have undergone dedicated training in tropical diseases, giving you the best and latest health advice for your holiday. Whilst some pharmacists now offer some travel vaccinations many may not be trained to a high level in travel health medicine.
Lastly, travel clinics stock a comprehensive range of travel vaccines, including the yellow fever vaccine, which is not available at most GPs.
What makes London Travel Clinic different?
Here at London Travel Clinic, all of our clinics are regulated and approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our doctors and nurses are UK-registered, with over a 150 years’ of combined experience, and receive regular training specifically around travel health and vaccinations. The team have a genuine interest in travelling and strive to provide the highest quality of care for each and every individual they see. Our nurse advisors discuss aspects of health, disease and hazards likely to be encountered at your overseas destination. They also ensure the information given to you is current, accurate and easily understood.
You can choose from over 20 clinics across London, with evening and weekend appointments available at selected locations for your convenience. Bookings can be made easily using our online reservation system or via phone. We make it our mission here at London Travel Clinic to fight disease and save lives, ensuring prevention and treatment are easy, accessible and safe for all.
Article last reviewed on 12/11/2019 by:
Denise Chalkley RN, RM, RHV, BSc, AMFTM RCPS (Glas)
Clinical & Operations Director for Travel Medicine
Denise is an associate member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine, and a freelance lecturer at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow for the Faculty of Travel Medicine. She also lectures at the University of Hertfordshire teaching immunisations, tuberculosis, sexual health and travel medicine.
