If you are planning an overseas trip, you may need to be vaccinated to protect you during your travels.
To discuss what vaccinations you may need to travel or for travel advice, please call our reception team to request a link for our travel questionnaire at least 8 -10 weeks before you travel. Once completed this will be reviewed by our practice nurse and a response will be sent detailing the outcome. Alternatively contact us via Accurx to request the questionnaire.
An individual questionnaire will be required for each family member due to travel. This will allow the Nurse to gather all the correct information and determine the outcome.
Which travel vaccines are free on the NHS?
The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS
- polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab)
- typhoid
- hepatitis A
- cholera
These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.
Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres.
For malaria prevention advice and medicine, please go your local pharmacy – anti-malarial tablets can be purchased from a pharmacist and are not prescribed by your GP. More information on Malaria is here.
Further Information
MASTA Travel Health – You can use this website to to search where you can get travel vaccines privately if not given on the NHS. Vaccines include Yellow Fever, Meningitis ACWY, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies.
Why We Do Not Prescribe Sedatives for Flying
At Royal Arsenal Medical Centre, we follow current medical guidance and do not prescribe sedating medications such as diazepam or other benzodiazepines for fear of flying. While we understand that many people experience anxiety about flying, and it is common for patients to ask for medication to help manage this
Below, we explain why this decision is in place, based on patient safety, clinical guidance and legal considerations.
Safety on board
- Sedatives slow reaction times, impair decision making and coordination. In the rare event of an in‑flight emergency, this could put both the passenger and others at risk.
- They can also cause significant drowsiness, which may make evacuation in an emergency more difficult.
Medical risks
- Sedatives increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), especially on longer flights, as they reduce movement during sleep.
- They can affect breathing by causing mild respiratory depression. At altitude, where oxygen levels are already lower, this effect may become more significant.
- Some people may experience paradoxical effects, such as agitation or aggression, rather than calm.
Guideline and clinical reasons
- Benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam) are not recommended for phobias, including fear of flying, in the British National Formulary (BNF).
- NICE guidelines advise against using sedative medication for mild or short‑term anxiety.
- Fear of flying is considered a specific phobia, not generalised anxiety disorder, so these medicines are not indicated.
Other important considerations
- Combining sedatives with alcohol (often consumed by nervous flyers) increases the risk of complications.
- Importing or carrying sedative medication is illegal in some countries, which could cause problems when travelling abroad.
- Sedatives carry a risk of dependence and, with regular use, may be linked to cognitive side effects.
- GP indemnity generally only covers prescribing for use in the UK; use during travel abroad may not be covered.
What you can do instead
Fear of flying is common, and there are safer, evidence‑based approaches to help manage it:
- Fear of flying courses, often run by airlines, which combine education about flying with anxiety management techniques.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which has good evidence for helping with specific phobias.
- Self‑help strategies such as breathing exercises, distraction (music, reading, puzzles) and talking openly to cabin crew about your anxiety.
Below are some courses and resources you may find useful:
- easyJet Fearless Flyer
- Flying Without Fear
- British Airways – Flying With Confidence
- Flying Without Fear
Guidance from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
The CAA advises that sedative drugs are not recommended for fear of flying, for the same safety and health reasons outlined above.
They encourage passengers to consider therapeutic options, self‑help techniques and to seek professional advice before flying.
If you feel your anxiety is severe or part of a wider mental health condition, we recommend discussing this with your GP to explore the most appropriate and safe support.