Private GP before your holiday: what to sort before you travel

Written by the AccessGP Team, reviewed by Dr Zamiel Hussain, Lead GP and Founder of AccessGP

A holiday should feel exciting, not stressful.

But in the days before travel, health worries can suddenly become more urgent. You may realise you are running low on medication, feel unsure whether you are well enough to fly, need a medical letter, or develop symptoms just before you are due to leave.

For many people, these concerns are not emergencies, but they still matter. Waiting weeks for a routine appointment may not be realistic when your flight is approaching.

A private GP appointment can help you make sense of the situation. You can discuss your symptoms, review medication, consider whether a prescription or medical letter is appropriate, and agree what is safe before you travel.

This guide explains what to think about before a holiday, when a private GP appointment may be useful, and when you should seek urgent or specialist advice instead.

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Why health planning matters before travel

Most people think carefully about passports, flights, accommodation and travel insurance. Health planning is often left until the last minute.

That is understandable. If you are generally well, you may not think about speaking to a doctor before a holiday. But travel can expose small health issues quickly. Heat, long flights, disrupted sleep, unfamiliar food, time zone changes and missed routines can all make existing symptoms feel worse.

Common pre-holiday health concerns include:

• running low on regular medication
• asthma or hay fever symptoms before travel
• stomach problems or diarrhoea risk
• skin flare-ups in the sun
• anxiety about flying or travel
• medication side effects
• blood pressure concerns
• needing a medical letter
• wanting advice after a recent illness
• uncertainty about whether symptoms are safe to travel with

A GP appointment is not always needed. But if you are worried, unsure, or trying to make a decision before travel, speaking to a doctor can help you avoid guessing.

Medication before travel: do not leave it too late

Medication is one of the most common last-minute travel problems.

You may realise that your inhaler is almost empty, your blood pressure tablets will run out while you are away, or your migraine medication has expired. You may also need advice about how to take medication across time zones, whether it should go in hand luggage, or whether you need documentation.

A private GP may be able to help with some medication queries, particularly where the medicine is established, lower risk, and clinically appropriate to continue.

This may include advice about:

• regular medication before travel
• asthma inhalers
• hay fever treatment
• migraine medication
• reflux medication
• contraception
• skin treatments
• travel-related nausea
• uncomplicated short-term symptoms
• medication side effects
• whether a medication review is needed before you go

However, not every medication can be safely prescribed through a one-off online appointment. Some medicines require specialist oversight, blood test monitoring, controlled drug prescribing rules, or access to full medical records.

A previous prescription does not automatically mean a private GP can issue the same medicine.

If you take regular medication, try to check your supply at least a few weeks before travel. If you are requesting a private GP review, have the medication name, dose, previous prescription, allergies and relevant medical history ready.

Travelling with medicines

If you are travelling with prescribed medication, keep it in its original packaging where possible and carry a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s letter if needed.

This is especially important for medicines that may be restricted in another country.

Rules vary between countries. A medication that is commonly prescribed in the UK may be restricted or treated differently elsewhere. Controlled drugs, strong painkillers, ADHD medication, sedatives and some specialist medicines need particular care.

If your medicine is essential, carry it in hand luggage rather than checked luggage, in case your suitcase is delayed or lost.

You should also check the rules for your destination before travelling. Your airline, travel insurer, destination country embassy, GOV.UK travel advice and pharmacist may all be useful sources of information.

Travelling for holiday, work or studying abroad needs the same level of preparation so take your time to check you have what you need.

Medical letters for travel

Some travellers need a medical letter before going abroad.

This may be for medication, medical equipment, a recent health condition, fitness to travel, insurance, a planned event, or confirmation of a known diagnosis.

A private GP can consider writing a factual medical letter where appropriate. The letter must be based on the information available and the doctor’s assessment. It cannot say more than can be clinically supported.

For example, a GP may be able to confirm:

• relevant medical history discussed during the consultation
• current medication, where evidence is available
• a recent assessment
• advice given about travel
• whether there are obvious clinical concerns based on the consultation
• that a patient reports a diagnosis or treatment, where this is appropriately evidenced

A GP cannot guarantee airline decisions, insurance decisions, border decisions or fitness for all travel situations. Some airlines, insurers or authorities may have their own forms and requirements.

If you need a letter, do not leave it until the night before travel. The GP may need to review evidence, medication records or recent medical information before writing anything safely.

Fit to fly worries

Feeling unsure whether you are fit to fly can be stressful.

This might happen after a chest infection, asthma flare, recent surgery, ear infection, severe anxiety, pregnancy-related concerns, a blood clot, a heart problem, or a recent hospital admission. Sometimes plans have to change due to urgent health issues. If you need to cancel or cut short a trip for medical reasons, a factual letter summarising events can support a travel insurance claim, subject to your policy terms.

AccessGP is an adult-only remote GP service, so it cannot examine you physically or assess emergencies. But for some concerns, a private GP appointment may help you understand whether your symptoms need urgent care, in-person assessment, delay of travel, or simple management advice.

You should not rely on an online GP appointment if you have chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, signs of a blood clot, severe infection, confusion, neurological symptoms, or symptoms that feel unsafe.

If you are acutely unwell, seek urgent medical help.

Travel insurance and pre-existing conditions

Travel insurance is not just paperwork. It is part of safe travel planning.

If you have a pre-existing condition, recent symptoms, a recent hospital admission, ongoing investigations, or medication changes, check your insurance before travelling. Declaring medical conditions honestly matters, as failing to do so may affect cover.

A GP can help you understand your medical situation and provide factual documentation where appropriate, but your insurer decides what they require and whether they will offer cover.

A GHIC or EHIC may help with access to medically necessary state healthcare in some countries, but it is not a replacement for travel insurance. Private medical costs, repatriation, cancelled flights and extra accommodation may not be covered by state healthcare arrangements.

For travellers with ongoing health conditions, sorting insurance early is often as important as booking flights.

Travel vaccines and destination-specific advice

Some destinations require travel vaccinations, malaria prevention or specific health precautions.

These should not be left until the last minute. Some vaccines need time to work, and others require more than one dose. Ideally, travel vaccine advice should be sought several weeks before travel.

AccessGP can provide general GP advice, but we are not a substitute for a dedicated travel vaccination clinic where destination-specific vaccines, malaria prevention and formal travel risk assessment are needed.

If you are travelling to a destination where vaccines or malaria tablets may be required, you should contact a travel clinic, pharmacist travel service or your NHS GP practice as early as possible.

A private GP appointment may still be useful if you also have a separate concern, such as medication planning, a flare-up of a known condition, a medical letter, or uncertainty about symptoms before travel.

Common summer holiday health issues

Summer travel can trigger or worsen several common conditions.

Hay fever and allergies

Pollen, dust, pets, air conditioning and new environments can worsen allergy symptoms. If your usual antihistamines are not enough, a GP can review options such as nasal sprays, eye drops or stronger treatment where appropriate.

Asthma and breathing symptoms

If you have asthma, check your inhalers before travel. Make sure you have enough preventer and reliever medication, and know what to do if symptoms worsen. If you are using your reliever inhaler more often than usual, it is worth seeking medical advice before travelling.

Stomach problems

Traveller’s diarrhoea, food poisoning, reflux and irritable bowel symptoms are common holiday concerns. A GP can advise on hydration, red flags, medication options and when symptoms need urgent assessment.

Skin problems

Sun exposure, heat, sweat, insect bites and swimming pools can aggravate eczema, acne, rosacea, fungal infections and rashes. A GP can assess many skin concerns remotely if clear photographs are provided, although some rashes need urgent in-person review.

Urinary symptoms

UTI symptoms can be uncomfortable and disruptive during travel. If symptoms start before you go away, it is better to seek advice early rather than hoping they settle mid-flight or abroad.

Anxiety before travel

Travel can worsen anxiety, panic symptoms and poor sleep. A GP can discuss symptoms, red flags, self-help strategies, therapy options, medication where appropriate, and whether further support is needed.

When a private GP appointment is useful before travel

A private GP appointment can be helpful if you are travelling soon and need a clear, practical plan.

You may benefit from an appointment if:

• you are running low on medication
• you have symptoms that may affect travel
• you need advice after a recent illness
• you are unsure whether to fly
• you need a factual medical letter
• you have a flare-up of asthma, eczema, hay fever, reflux or migraines
• you are worried about blood pressure, dizziness or fatigue
• you need advice about medication side effects
• you have anxiety about travel
• you want to understand whether your symptoms need urgent or in-person care

The aim is not to medicalise every holiday concern. It is to give you timely, sensible advice when you need it.

If you are visiting the UK from abroad and need medical advice, it can help to speak to a private online GP.

When not to use an online private GP appointment

Some travel-related symptoms need urgent care rather than a routine private GP appointment.

Seek urgent help if you have:

• chest pain
• severe breathlessness
• fainting or collapse
• symptoms of a stroke
• severe allergic reaction
• severe dehydration
• confusion
• a seizure
• severe abdominal pain
• signs of a blood clot, such as a swollen painful calf or sudden breathlessness
• suicidal thoughts or feeling unable to keep yourself safe
• symptoms that feel immediately dangerous

AccessGP is not an emergency service. If you think you may be seriously unwell, call 999, attend A&E, or use urgent local services.

What to prepare before your GP appointment

To get the most from a private GP appointment before travel, prepare a few details in advance.

It helps to know:

• where you are travelling
• when you leave and how long you are away
• your main concern
• your current medication and doses
• allergies
• relevant medical history
• recent blood pressure readings, if relevant
• recent test results or letters, if available
• what documentation you need, if requesting a letter
• what your airline or insurer has asked for

If your request relates to medication, photographs of medication boxes, prescription records or clinic letters can be very helpful.

How AccessGP can help

AccessGP provides online private GP appointments for adults.

We can help with many pre-travel health concerns, including medication reviews, common holiday health symptoms, hay fever, asthma concerns, skin problems, stomach symptoms, urinary symptoms, anxiety, medical letters and advice about whether further assessment is needed.

Where clinically appropriate, we can issue prescriptions, referrals, fit notes or factual medical letters.

We will also be clear if your concern needs urgent care, in-person assessment, a specialist travel clinic, or your usual NHS GP.

The bottom line

Good travel health planning is not only about vaccines. It is about making sure you are well enough to travel, have enough medication, understand your risks, and know what to do if symptoms flare up.

If you are preparing for a holiday and something feels uncertain, a private GP appointment can help you make a safe plan before you go.

If you would prefer not to wait, you can book a same-day online GP appointment with AccessGP.

Key sources: NHS UK, Travel vaccination advice; TravelHealthPro, Medicines and travel; GOV.UK, Take medicine in or out of the UK; GOV.UK, Foreign travel insurance; NHS UK, GHIC and EHIC healthcare abroad; AccessGP Knowledge Base.