Letter for airport security

Hi Molly I have always had it free from the diabetic team. If you don't have a diabetic team I would Pproach the manager of the surgery regarding fee as this is something that should not be charged for. I am aware I did get it from a g p once and they said their may be a charge but got it free in the end

Some charge for letters, some don't. Nothing you can do about it unfortunately. They are within their rights. I wouldn't pay though. I would just keep a copy of current prescription in hand luggage. There have been many threads like this and the vast majority have never been asked to produce anything at security.

I've flown alot in the last 6 weeks and there has never been any problem so far. On more than one occasion airport security have said, 'we cannot refuse medication that you require', also bring glucotabs instead of juices

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/travel
http://www.tvdiabetescarenetwork.ca/diabetes_docs/DiabetesTravelLetter.pdf An example of what is needed which you could pre write. i would discuss the matter with the doctor or to manager .

I paid for a letter from my GP. They helpfully wrote it in a couple of languages. I think, from memory, it cost me £15, but I got them to write it in such a way that it wasn't for a specific trip and could be used whenever I flew. I've had it for years now and always take it with me along with my EHIC card and insurance.

No-one has read every word of it, but Security have looked at it and I think it's got me through quicker. Im not a great fan of flying anyway, and having this letter is one less thing to worry about, I find personally.

These two articles, one from DUK and one from the Civil Aviation Authority explain what is needed @Molly56
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Travel-and-insurance/

https://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=923&pagetype=70&gid=924&faqid=90

My surgery recently charged me £10 to put a stamp and initial on a form I had completed about my sons asthma, this was a form they had initially lost, then said was ready, then lost again, so some of them will try and squeeze every penny out of you.

I got my travel letter free from my DSN last week (along with a frio wallet - #winning) so I would try that first. GPs charge you for everything - when I got diagnosed I had to cancel a trip to Barcelona and they charged me £25 to fill out three boxes on my travel insurance claim

Molly56 said:

..am assuming the DSN that people see is through a specialist diabetic clinic in a hospital rather than through diabetic nurse in GP practice that my partner sees....his treatment was outsourced to a specialist diabetic team but then brought back within the GP practice as it suited him better to do so....sometimes wonder if we are getting the best diabetic advice when there are more specialised teams out there with more day to day knowledge of dealing with it but nothing we can really do about it.

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Yes @Molly56 that is correct, a DSN is who you would see in a hospital diabetes clinic as where a DN is someone you would see in a gp practice.

No problem @Molly56.

I can only talk from being a type 1, but a DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse) are more experienced and adapt at dealing with insulin related issues as where a DN (Diabetes Nurse) may not have the same training, knowledge and experience of dealing with people with type 1 diabetes than a DSN has.

DSL have access to loads more services. For example a gp one has no pump training or access to them. Plus the surgery gets extra money the more go through the g p nurse but the hospital in my view is much better

Ds n

Every time I go to the airport to get my flight's to Pittsburgh (USA) I never get stopped by the security at the scan or customs desk as long as I tell them when I check in that I am diabetic and have needles in my bag and need them for my medication

We have a good example of different practices running along different guidelines. That is the airlines, the airport security, hospitals and GPs. Regarding the airlines and the airport securities - they make the rules up as they go along. It depends on who you are, where you are boarding, and what you know. The complications are understandable, but annoying.
Different countries have different rules. In the USA diabetes is treated across the counter at the pharmacy. I used to get my medication direct, and no doctor involved. They are very laid back about it. In the UK, and Europe, that is not the case. I have never had problems with insulin, pens and needles on entry to the US, or in South America. I have never had problem in any UK airport - LHR. LGW, EDN or LUT.
I had difficulty once in Paris - they were tent screening for drugs (1972), and I had some idiot accusing me of drug addiction. I laughed at him, and said he was ignorant, and requested someone who knew what they were about. He got a senior, who also laughed, and apologized to me. The more worrying case was in Athens in 2006. A BA check in girl had problems, and caused a scene. I told her to calm down, and told her that my medication was private to me, and not up for heated discussion. I then reminded her that it was up to the pilot to make the final decision. She contacted the seniors, and in a few minutes I was allowed checkin.
I have noticed that airports are now demanding passengers put all medicines in plastic bags, and carry them openly. So far I have never done this. I put all my medicines in plastic bags, but keep them safe in my hand luggage, out of view of other passengers. My luggage is frequently checked through security, and I tell them what it is, and that I do not like publicly displaying it. No security officer has ever taken issue with that.
I always take diabetic validation - like a diabetic card, and a prescription form with me. I hold those in my wallet all the time - a sensible procedure. I also ensure I know the terms in the language I am visiting. I always prepare a card stating my medical condition, and what to do in the case of a hypo - viz sugar, in the language of the country I am visiting. I also make sure I know the words for sugar, without sugar, insulin, diabetic. That seems fairly easy and sensible.
Hope this helps.

Molly56 said:

Am just doing letter to GP to request letter for airline travel...

Included dates of travel and where we are travelling to and with which airline....plus...

"I understand that I need to obtain a letter from my GP or diabetic nurse in order to carry my insulin supplies and associated equipment (including blood testing monitors, test strips and lancets, ketone test sticks, glucogel and prescription medication) within my hand luggage for the purposes of airport security. "

Is there anything I have missed out....

Also reading some of the links provided above it mentions about contacting your airline in advance to tell them that you will be carrying insulin on board.....is this strictly necessary or will the letter from the GP suffice ....my partner uses Novomix 30 insulin pens so will be taking sufficient pens to cover the duration of our trip (plus a few spares!)...

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Where are you going and what airline