Medical Letter Needed for flight

Nottslad

Good Morning...
Sorry its the first time I have used this forum as im after some advice.


I am a type one diabetic and as such require insulin and needles to be carried with me at all times...
I have only had the condition 6-7 years and in that time been abroad twice.
Previously my doctor has just written me a letter and I have taken that but this time they have said I am going to be charged £15 for a letter I have no choice in taking....
They have said I maybe able to take my repeat prescription but I've not heard of this as being acceptable and valid...


Any help and advice would be great

InsideInsurance

Your lucky its just £15, I know our old one charged £60. As this is not a NHS service the doctors are free to charge whatever they want for their "professional services".

The requirements vary by country, in the USA for example they recommend that you bring a copy of your prescription rather than a doctors letter but do say even that isnt strictly necessary but just smooth the process.

The UK advice is https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/essential-medicines-and-medical-equipment but if you look on other parts of the site it pushes more towards just letters being acceptable.

As always, a lot depends on who you see on the day as there is massive variance in immigration, customs, security etc at airports

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

Most airlines will require a medical letter from a prescribing doctor; £15 is very cheap, I'd snatch their hand off! Some also require a copy of your prescription (the tear off part that you keep) as it has named drugs and dosages on.

My local surgery charges £50 per letter, and they can charge more - it is set by the surgery.

Just pay the teeny charge and go on holiday and enjoy!

wildwestfan

I have been on holiday many times since starting insulin.

Always in Europe as it is the only insurance I can get and have never been asked for a medical letter about my insulin and needles at the airport.

I do always carry an up to date prescription list but that is more for if I am ill whilst away.

Flugelhorn

Got me thinking - I'm a GP and I can't remember the last time did a letter for one of our diabetics to travel abroad (and believe me they do travel a lot!).
Have done letters for people to have wheelchairs at airports etc , tend to make the letter "for the forseeable future) so they can keep using them.
Usually ask for a donation for the friends of the pratice funds.
Presume our diabetics are using
a) old letters
b) their prescriptions
or c) have extracted letters off the dispenser or nurse #
will enquire..

Biggles

Nottslad wrote: »

Previously my doctor has just written me a letter and I have taken that but this time they have said I am going to be charged £15 for a letter I have no choice in taking....

Then take one of the old letters.

They have said I maybe able to take my repeat prescription but I've not heard of this as being acceptable and valid...

Then ask whether it is acceptable.

~Beanie~

My mum flew to Lanzarote with insulin/needles a couple of months ago. She forgot to get a letter from the Doctor so took her prescription instead but in the end didn't need either.

pogofish

This year I've been advised to carry both my doc's letter and my repeat forms.

littlereddevil

what is the real problem here, paying £15?

monkeymo

I'm also Type 1. I use an old doctor's letter dated in 2009 I think. I've never shown it to anyone at security as I've never been asked to.

If you have an old docs letter take that, otherwise a prescription would probably suffice at UK security (if you're asked to show it). I would guess any sensible person would see all the diabetes paraphernalia together with your needles and work it out for themselves!

Have a good trip!

Yolina

A friend of mine is type 1, flies often and has never bothered getting a docs letter, except when we flew back from France to the UK less than a week after 9/11 - IIRC he wasn't even asked for it anyway at the airport.