Health Advice

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the applicable vaccinations for your choice of destiantion and take the necessary precautions against bites from insects and animals. Always check with your GP for any recommended vaccinations prior to travel.

The Department of Health recommends Hepatitus A, Polio, Tetanus and Typhoid vaccinations when travelling to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Goa, Jamaica, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco and Tunisia. Anti-malarial precautions are also essential when travelling to Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Goa.

Please seek advice from your doctor before travelling and here may be a fee for vaccinations.

There are hundreds of ways to avoid those irritating insect bites - here are a couple of suggestions. Dampen a small cotton wool pad or tissue with hot water and add a few drops of lavender essential oil on to it. The lavender is great for relaxing and mosquitoes hate it! Vitamin B1 actually deters the little midges as it omits a smell they don't like and because humans can't smell it it makes an ideal insect repellant. Start taking it 1-2 months before travel and hey presto - no mosquitoe bites!

It is a relatively common occurance to suffer gastric illness when travelling abroad. There are many ways you can reduce the possibility of being affected such as: not eating undercooked food, avoiding ice drinks, ensuring you drink plenty of bottled water and avoid over exposure in the sun. In your travel medical kit, take some diarrhea control tablets and electrolyte replacement powders for children with the runs.

Mild sunburn results in skin irritation and redness so can be very uncomfortable. The best treatment for sunburn is prevention - avoid sunbathng between 11am and 3pm. Apply waterproof suncream that protects against UVA and UVB every 2 hours. Also use t-shirts and wide-brimmed hats to protect all the family.

The EHIC is the new E111 and can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will be the same as received by a person covered by the country's 'insured' medical scheme. Be sure to apply for yours in plenty of time for your holiday. Apply online with the NHS

For travel outside the EU make sure your travel insurance will cover any medical costs should anything happen.

Do not stray too far away from your normal diet abroad nor pile your plate up with lots of different foods on the first night - break your stomach in gently. Having lobster, prawns, salad items and a little bit of steak washed down with 10 pints of the local brew is more likely to be your problem - not food poisoning.