Travel

[Canadian Jacquie]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me either with the answer or directing me to who may know. I have had an insulin pump for the past two years. I was born in Scotland but now live in Canada.
I am travelling from Canada to Glasgow, then to Northern Ireland then back to Glasgow, then back to Canada by plane in August. Canadian laws allow me avoid the Gamma scanner/Xray because of the pump (manufacturer advises against it) and have another type of security search done, but I'm not sure if UK laws are the same. Will I have to go through Gamma/Xray if requested? Do I need to declare that I'm wearing an insulin pump? Are there alternative security checks? I will have all documentation, doctors letter, letter from pump manufacturer, insulin/ backup needles/test strips etc packed for easy viewing and checks. Has anyone had any issues with security? Does anyone living in the UK have any suggestions about the security check?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Jacquie

 

[Scouser58]

May I give you my thought on your question, have your tried on-line to the uk.border agency site and ask the questions you have for them?. Would the agency there in canada, be able get information for you, from their connections to uk. agency people? There are hand scanners for alternate scanning and checking you out and as you have a raft of paperwork to show them, maybe just stopping before the queue to scan and asking them there, as it is medical then they may well have a system ready in place. There must be other medical conditions which cannot be scanned.
Have you got some condition aware braclet/ around the neck alert items, which would show them quicker of your medical needs, things in pockets/wallets/bags are not easily found by other people if needed in a hurry. The details of your trips in August sound extremly tiring, so take it slow, and although you should not get jet lagged between NI and Scotland, your bs. may need extra monitoring, have a good and safe time, ttfn

 

[Riri]

There are a lot of threads on this issue so hopefully you will be able to find other replies as well. Basically you need to tell security that you can't go through the full body scanners because of the pump. All UK airports I've been through seem to be aware of insulin pumps now and they will let you through the side gate and then body search you and swab check your pump. As you have all the documentation to hand, there should be no problem at all. I would always tell them you have a pump though, even at airports where they only have the other type of X-ray arches that we pumpers can go through. Hope this helps and that you enjoy your trip