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[theherd123]

Im hoping all you wonderful Omleteers can give me a little advice

 

We are hoping to take our first holiday abroad with Isabelle this year but am concerned about what to do with regards to getting her medications on board the plane. We would need to take Epipens, antihistamines, creams and some of her pre prepared food.

 

I am presuming I wont just be able to walk on the plane with all of this esp with stricter airport security & a limit on liquids etc but I will need them with me in case she needs to use them.

 

Anyone got any advice about this please?

 

I know I have to declare her medical conditions to the insurance company & this will cost me extra

[susanbb]

You will need to get a letter of confirmation from your GP or consultant saying what meds you are taking. Ours just photocopied prescription and signed a letter and that was ok. Hope this helps.

[Cooks]

re: the insurance I always use royal mail and they are really good

[susanbb]

Re: Epipens, do put them in the clear plastic bags and let them see them, rather than keep in luggage

[chelsea]

Susan is right.

 

Keep all tablet medication in original boxes (with the pamphlet inside) and then place into clear resealable bags in your hand baggage. A doctor's letter accompanying all of it will cover you at the security checks at the airport.

 

Our airline only permits one epi-pen on board in cabin baggage so I would give your airline a ring to check just beforehand as they all differ slightly.

 

Anything else liquid based(creams, lotions, ointments) needs to be no more than 100mls in quantity (each container) and each passenger can carry up to 1 litre in cabin baggage, again this needs to be in clear resealable bags.

[hazard]

we where supposed to go to malta back in october but no airline would allow me to fly because of my medication. i have food allergies and carry epipens and steriod injections i also couldnt get medical insurance plus because the epipen cantains a needle i wouldnt be able to carry it on me because of getting attacked for the drugs sorry its not good

[Space Chick]

My friend is a diabetic and it was no problem for her to take a syringe on board with a GP letter.

 

re: the insurance I always use royal mail and they are really good

 

I used Royal Mail too, with the problems I have had this year I was expecting problems in getting insurance, but Royal Mail were quite happy

[docsquid]

The situation may become more strict after the recent terrorist attempt. I have to carry a lot of medication with me whenever I travel. There is a strict limit on the quantity of liquids you can carry on board. You will have to put them in a clear plastic bag. They must be in the original packaging (unopened and unused) and you have to have a confirmatory letter from the doctor. This is still not a guarantee of being able to take them on board and you should also take a full second set of medication in your checked luggage in case they are confiscated before the flight. You should repeatedly check what the rules are for your airline or risk having the medication taken from you before boarding.

 

Re insurance. You must declare your medical condition when you take out the insurance. They will normally cover you for anything except the medical condition you declare. It is unusual for a pre-existing medical condition to be covered by travel insurance. Sometimes a pre-existing condition can be covered for a higher premium, but sometimes they will refuse to cover it at all. They will normally require evidence that the condition is under control, and you have not required any treatment from a hospital, or any change in treatment for a while, and have not had any flare-ups of a chronic condition. They do take it on a case by case basis and it is important to be totally honest otherwise the whole insurance becomes invalid.

[Alis girls]

I also had to take Epipens in our luggage to Spain last year, I kept everything in original containers with a letter from hosp re sons nut allergy and a green prescription thing which you get when you collect from doctors. You can get if its an allergy an info sheet form Allergy UK printed in whatever language you need for a fee. I left it too late and went on to Google translate and said roughly " my son is allergic to the following nuts... and has to carry an epipen" and also for restaurants " do any of your dishes contain nuts?" and then printed it off in Spanish. I also did one " pLease call an ambulance my son has gone into anaphlactic shock" - all very dramamtic but useful. We did not have to use any of this. But for warned is for armed. I will say my bag was scanned twice going thro customs - but dont know if it was the epipens or something else of interest - but I didnt have to open bag so obviously all was well. I always feel guilty going thro customs - does anyone else

[chickenanne]

To get cover for pre-existing conditions you generally need to go to a more specialist company. I've used BUPA in the past, they seem to cover practically anything for a fee; I needed cover for anything arising from my condition which does make it more expensive. Your practice nurse at the GP surgery might have a list of other insurers, or if you see a consultant regularly then department nurse may have.

[theherd123]

Thanks so much for all the advice

 

We are going to talk it through with our GP next time one of us has an appointment and also have a chat with the travel company & airline we book with.

 

 

Omleteers know everything - you lot are fab!