Type 2 Travelling to and getting insulin in the UK

[kenmal55]

I'm researching travelling with Insulin to the UK from Canada and would appreciate advice on flights. I can seek answers with the airline about bringing my insulin with me (I am coming for over a month) but any further advice would be good. My question is really about signing on with my old doctor or any doctor in the UK to get fresh insulin. Last year I forgot to bring my insulin but thought it would be easy to get it from my old doctor in Burghfield, Berks. After a long story - the Chemists couldn't provide me with any without a UK doctor's prescription (I had brought my Canadian doctor's note). I had to sign back on the Burghfield doctors' register which was very difficult (especially as nobody answered their phones on a Bank Holiday weekend) then make an appointment to get a prescription for the insulin. I fear this (because I now reside in Canada) will need to happen again. I use an insulin pump/pens that need to be refrigerated. Is there an easy way to get my insulin in an emergency (preferably without going to a hospital)?

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Yes, it may be a bit complex. Pharmacies here must have a prescription for insulin and may well not take your Canadian one. You may have to sign-on at a surgery or even go to A&E to over-ride the system. You may want to email one of the popular pharmacies here e.g. Lloyds who I use and are very sensible and see what they might suggest? As you may know, the NHS here is in a bit of a mess and overloaded so the system may change. I would bring your own insulin if you can for the month; airlines are not a problem.

 

[barrym]

Welcome, Kenmal,

Have no answers for you and from the US so would like you to post when you find out the answer to what to do with foreign prescriptions of all kinds, both on the plane and when you get wherever you are going. Weekends and holidays are difficult most countries

I would think that a 'private' GP could write a prescription. My daughter had some private medical work carried out and the consultant wrote a prescription that the local chemist provided as normal but charged for. A Google for private GPs should yeild some contacts.