Were you aware that between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 as many as 3,599 British nationals were hospitalised overseas and 6,000 British deaths abroad were reported in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) annual “British Behaviour Abroad” report. Alarmingly the number of reported rape cases increased by 9% and the largest numbers of reported cases were in popular tourist destinations such as Greece, Spain and Turkey. Hospitalisations were often due to road traffic accidents and as a result of diseases such as heart attacks and accidents due to the increasing number of ageing tourists and expatriates.
The FCO advises that everyone before they travel should:
- · Research their destination/s.
- · Check out all health requirements including vaccinations and malaria tablets before they leave.
- · Obtain comprehensive travel insurance, ensuring that they will repatriate you and to ensure you read the small print.
The Travel Clinic Ltd's specialist nurses will be happy to discuss all your health needs and help you research your destinations. It is also important that you receive vaccinations and advice before you travel because travel insurance may be invalid if you contract a tropical disease, which could have been prevented by vaccination before you travelled. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) states in their document “Travel Insurance- what you need to know” that medical emergencies are not covered if you have “medical conditions connected to your failure to take your prescribed medication or get vaccinations and other preventative measures (such as malaria tablets) advised for the country being visited.”
A recent Guardian newspaper article stated that it is thought that one in four British tourists do not get vaccinated or take any advice from healthcare professionals before their trip, putting themselves at risk of disease and potential costly health care treatment abroad. Remember as well that your travel insurance should include repatriation, in other words they will fly you home in an emergency or if you become unwell. If this is invalidated or you failed to take out effective travel insurance you will have to pay thousands of pounds to get home or be stranded in a country with poor medical facilities. The ABI states that £49,000 was the cost of a coronary artery bypass and an emergency flight home for a holidaymaker taken ill in the USA: imagine not having the insurance to pay for this. Another popular misconception is that the British Embassy or High Commission will pay for repatriation, they will not!
Increasingly employees are sent out to countries for business, research and conferences and their company is liable for their health, security and well-being whilst travelling abroad. Some companies have been taken to court for not doing so. Preparation for travel should include travel insurance and a full 30 minute travel consultation and assessment with a trained healthcare professional to discuss risks and administer appropriate advice, medications and vaccinations. Companies are responsible and must ensure staff are covered to travel overseas.
The Travel Clinic Ltd is happy to discuss all your travel needs. Please call us on 08455 480543 for an appointment today.
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