Travel Advice

Ticks

As the warmer weather encourages more of us to be out and about enjoying the great outdoors, we are reminding the public to be aware of where ticks are found and how to remove them safely and quickly, as some tick bites can result in infections such as Lyme disease.

Peak tick season in the UK usually begins in March, with most bites commonly reported during May and June, and ends in October, although ticks can be active all year round.

The UK Health Security Agency have recently published two blog posts to help people 'be tick aware':

'What are ticks and how can you avoid being bitten?'

'What is Lyme disease and how is it diagnosed and treated?'

Holiday travel

Run by the practice nurses for foreign travel and protection at home. A full range of immunisations are available for all children.  If you wish to have a travel risk assessment performed by the nurse, please complete a travel risk managment form.  The form should be completed for each patient travelling, (please download a form for each person) and can be dropped off at reception or emailed to the surgery using wickhambrook.admin@nhs.net.  Immunisations can take weeks to become effective so we advise you submit the form to the practice well in advance of your planned departure, at least 8 weeks prior to travel.  If your travel is complex or for example of a more basic back-packing style we would recommend contacting us several months in advance if possible.

Once you have returned the completed form the nurse will review the content and contact you with an appointment of the appropriate duration.  In some cases a fee may be charged for holiday immunisation.   We have a number of appointments each week, however if we cannot accomodate you then a travel clinic might be able to help.   You can access our Travel Risk Management Form here. Please complete for each person travelling.

Useful websites (click to visit)

Fit for Travel - a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

NHS Immunisation - the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate source of information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.

For immunisation near airports, also see:

London
London Travel Clinic
0207 000 1804

Gatwick
Masta Travel Clinic
0330 100 4174