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Letter For Holiday

K

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,966
Location
Solihull
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,

I am due to go on holiday abroad in a few weeks so thought I would ask the Dr for a letter that states I have diabetes and need to take my insulin etc with me in my hand held luggage (advice I have read everywhere and on the NHS website). I have just traipsed down to the surgery and got told yes, that will cost £30. I am astounded, I asked to speak to the Practice Manager who said it is classed as a 'private' letter. Ok, I suppose I can understand that but 30 quid? What a con. I won't be paying that so my question is, has anyone got any suggestions what else to take with me just in case I need to prove anything?
 
I have one of those(got mine for free not from the UK/NHS) but have never in my 15 years as a diabetic and semi-frequent traveller been asked to show it or to prove that I have diabetes. Furthest any security questioning has gone is to ask if I have any liquids in which I've responded insulin and they just leave me be with no further questions.
 
You could ask your diabetic consultant or DSN!?

I just take a copy of my prescription with me when I go to Turkey
 
jlarsson said:
I have one of those(got mine for free not from the UK/NHS) but have never in my 15 years as a diabetic and semi-frequent traveller been asked to show it or to prove that I have diabetes. Furthest any security questioning has gone is to ask if I have any liquids in which I've responded insulin and they just leave me be with no further questions.
Click to expand...
@KK123 I travel a lot and have a letter and never ever had to show it. I do the same @jlarsson and there's never been any problem. I think @porl69 has a good idea with taking the prescription. Hope the weather is lovely. Perhaps we should start a new thread...... TD1 happy hols?
 
My diabetes relationship is not with my GP (I've never met her): it is with the diabetes team at the local hospital.
My letter comes from the diabetes team ... and did not cost anything.

I have only had to show my letter once (twice if you include airport security asking to see a letter about why I would not let my pump be x-rayed) in nearly 15 years.
However, I would never travel without it (especially when going on holiday) - for the sake of a piece of paper, I would hate to be turned away at the airport.
 
If you attend clinic in hospital they do one for free. One was waiting for me without asking when first diagnosed. I had asked for one at GP unawares of cost. The DN at hospital said the GP should have told me the hospital did them gratis. I told them politely what they could do with it!!
 
I have had to show the letter from my specialist 2 out of 5 plane trips (all within Australia where I live).
The need had arisen when security staff were insisting my insulin pump bee detached and sent through the take-on-board luggage scanner.
Part of his letter says words to the effect: "Removal and disconnection of this insulin pump from the wearer may prove lethal".
Even if you are not using an insulin pump, the insulin pens, syringes, needles and insulin vials in your take-on luggage might raise suspicion. And I always take along medication in the original packet to slow evidence of what it is and that is has been dispensed to me.
A letter from your GP certifying your medical condition and its treatment is NOT a 'private letter. You are of course free to complain to licensing boards etc about such 'highway robbery'.
Another point is that aircraft regulations ban the taking on board and use of flammable substances. This includes alcohol swabs. I, probably like many others, blithely used to pack alcohol (metho) swabs in take-on-luggage and was never charged or reprimanded but once I took a more detailed look at excluded items (and the diagrams of them which catch your eye) I have improved my behaviour. ( it is never too late)
I now pack some betadine (iodine) swabs or a small packet of handwipes as safe substitutes.
Having said that, how many diabetics use swabs at all before injections anyway?
Best Wishes for safe flying and holidays. Wear a medical ID bracelet !!
 
@KK123 - As others have said, your clinic should be able to done on for you. Most use a standard pro-forma letter they merely populate with your details. That in conjunction with a copy of your prescription does the trick.
 
Hey as others have mentioned if your under hospital they will do one for free. I contacted my doc and was time £25 which like yourself was a shock.
Hope you get sorted.....enjoy your holiday.
 
Would it make any difference if you make an appointment and actually see the doctor? Where I live, you can get a repeat prescription for a $10 fee, but if you see the GP, it's bulk billed and no charge. You could always cite "immunisation enquiry" as your primary reason for the visit.
 
Lucky you. My surgery charges £43 for a letter. Unfortunately, they require 3 weeks notice and I only gave two weeks so will try hospital.
 
porl69 said:
You could ask your diabetic consultant or DSN!?

I just take a copy of my prescription with me when I go to Turkey
Click to expand...

I agree. GPs are too busy to dish out such letters and the fee acts as a disincentive to request one. One's up-to-date prescription copies contain all of the data needed by any airport busybody, perhaps combined with your NHS Medical Card.
 
I am off to Sardinia tomorrow.
I asked my GP surgery for a letter in case I am challenged over drugs in hand baggage, they said £20 I said OK and paid.
Two days later surgery rang and said I don't need a letter, a print out of my current prescription drugs from my medical records is all that is needed, and it is free.
Went and picked up the print out and was given my £20 back.
So ask for a script print out and save money and time.
 
KK123 said:
Hi,

I am due to go on holiday abroad in a few weeks so thought I would ask the Dr for a letter that states I have diabetes and need to take my insulin etc with me in my hand held luggage (advice I have read everywhere and on the NHS website). I have just traipsed down to the surgery and got told yes, that will cost £30. I am astounded, I asked to speak to the Practice Manager who said it is classed as a 'private' letter. Ok, I suppose I can understand that but 30 quid? What a con. I won't be paying that so my question is, has anyone got any suggestions what else to take with me just in case I need to prove anything?
Click to expand...

hi i usually get a copy of my meds from my doctors web site ( you are allowed to see your meds this way ) or get a copy of your subscription ie green copy from your gp this is all you need to travel
 
Hi
I asked the nurse at the diabetes clinic & they did me a letter for free. She didn't date it so I use it over & over.
But after all that the airline didn't want to see it.
 
kitedoc said:
I have had to show the letter from my specialist 2 out of 5 plane trips (all within Australia where I live).
The need had arisen when security staff were insisting my insulin pump bee detached and sent through the take-on-board luggage scanner.
Part of his letter says words to the effect: "Removal and disconnection of this insulin pump from the wearer may prove lethal".
Even if you are not using an insulin pump, the insulin pens, syringes, needles and insulin vials in your take-on luggage might raise suspicion. And I always take along medication in the original packet to slow evidence of what it is and that is has been dispensed to me.
A letter from your GP certifying your medical condition and its treatment is NOT a 'private letter. You are of course free to complain to licensing boards etc about such 'highway robbery'.
Another point is that aircraft regulations ban the taking on board and use of flammable substances. This includes alcohol swabs. I, probably like many others, blithely used to pack alcohol (metho) swabs in take-on-luggage and was never charged or reprimanded but once I took a more detailed look at excluded items (and the diagrams of them which catch your eye) I have improved my behaviour. ( it is never too late)
I now pack some betadine (iodine) swabs or a small packet of handwipes as safe substitutes.
Having said that, how many diabetics use swabs at all before injections anyway?
Best Wishes for safe flying and holidays. Wear a medical ID bracelet !!
Click to expand...
I have never used an alcohol swab in my 43 years as a Type 1. But oddly I have read from others on the forum about them injecting through trousers etc. something I would never do myself. I always carry a copy of my prescription and hospital letter on holiday but have never been asked for one yet anywhere in the world. I have even carried my insulin in a small cool bag with freezer blocks with no problems. Only once a security chap at Gatwick rummaging through my cool bag withdrew his hand sharply as it touched the freezing surface and waved me on.
 
Cap'n M said:
I agree. GPs are too busy to dish out such letters and the fee acts as a disincentive to request one. One's up-to-date prescription copies contain all of the data needed by any airport busybody, perhaps combined with your NHS Medical Card.
Click to expand...
A solicitor would charge a lot more than £30 for a letter.
 
KK123 said:
Thanks to you all, some good advice and very much appreciated,
Click to expand...
I expected to have to pay but on asking my GP rather than the practice staff, he dashed off a letter in 5 seconds. I did not need to produce it at the airport and simply put my carry on stuff in a plastic bag and declaring my pump (nobody was at all iinterested). Good luck and bon voyage.
 
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