fit to fly certificate?

schwam66

my 4 year old came out with chicken pox last friday, they look to be relatively mild and most starting to heal already. We are do to fly on ryanair to spain this friday and i read on their website if they suspect chicken pox you need to produce a medical certificate saying your fit to fly? took him to the doctors yesterday and the GP says no doctor will do this or does it? Says he looks fine in himself but she doesnt know that he isnt still contagious, which makes a tiny bit of sense i suppose, but what do ryanair want then and why would it be on their website if no GP will do this? Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

have actually found this website now>

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/air-travel.aspx

nhs website says need certificate so what was the gp playing at?

martindow

According to the NHS site in your post chicken pox is communicable

1-2 days before onset or rash and continuing until all lesions have crusted (usually about 5 days after) - longer in the immunocompromised.

I read your post as the GP not being willing to issue a certificate because not all of the lesions had crusted. Or did she say that she would never issue a certificate or had not heard of them?

I would go back to the surgery as soon as all of the spots have crusted over and you should receive the paperwork. It may be an idea to print out the guidance to show if necessary.

If the worst comes to the worst and you can't go your travel insurance hopefully will cover you.

schwam66

martindow wrote: »

According to the NHS site in your post chicken pox is communicable

1-2 days before onset or rash and continuing until all lesions have crusted (usually about 5 days after) - longer in the immunocompromised.

I read your post as the GP not being willing to issue a certificate because not all of the lesions had crusted. Or did she say that she would never issue a certificate or had not heard of them?

I would go back to the surgery as soon as all of the spots have crusted over and you should receive the paperwork. It may be an idea to print out the guidance to show if necessary.

If the worst comes to the worst and you can't go your travel insurance hopefully will cover you.

thanks martin, yeah the doc flat out said she wouldnt give me anything and no gp would, nothing that he had healed or anything his face is already crusted and she didnt even bother looking at his body, just a straight refusal...have read some gps expect money for letters but mine made no mention or notion that that was required...100% be fine by thursday but i just worried they still wont do a letter if i happen to see the same gp(multiple gps at the office i go) is it poss to go to another gp and say i cant get into my other on or something and see if they do me a letter? what about a private gp? i shudder to think what it would cost for a private one but if anyone has any more ideas please let me know.

thanks again

shaun_from_Africa

schwam66 wrote: »

i shudder to think what it would cost for a private one but if anyone has any more ideas please let me know.

As a "fit to fly" letter isn't provided as an NHS service, what your doctor would charge for this is probably the same as going to a private doctor so it might well be worth investigating a bit more.

My local NHS surgery charges £25 for this simple 2 line letter.

FEE FOR NON-NHS SERVICES

Private Sick Certificate £20.00

Driving Licence £20.00


Fit to Fly letter £25.00

peachyprice

schwam66 wrote: »

my 4 year old came out with chicken pox last friday, they look to be relatively mild and most starting to heal already. We are do to fly on ryanair to spain this friday and i read on their website if they suspect chicken pox you need to produce a medical certificate saying your fit to fly? took him to the doctors yesterday and the GP says no doctor will do this or does it? Says he looks fine in himself but she doesnt know that he isnt still contagious, which makes a tiny bit of sense i suppose, but what do ryanair want then and why would it be on their website if no GP will do this? Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

have actually found this website now>

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/air-travel.aspx

nhs website says need certificate so what was the gp playing at?

Your doctor is refusing to issue a fit to fly certificate and doesn't believe any other doctor would either. What's so confusing.

Your child has chicken pox not matter how mild he has it, he is still contagious, is a danger to pregnant women, unborn babies, the elderly, those with reduced immunity and you want to take him on a plane with 200 other people? Good on your doctor.

schwam66

peachyprice wrote: »

Your doctor is refusing to issue a fit to fly certificate and doesn't believe any other doctor would either. What's so confusing.

Your child has chicken pox not matter how mild he has it, he is still contagious, is a danger to pregnant women, unborn babies, the elderly, those with reduced immunity and you want to take him on a plane with 200 other people? Good on your doctor.

where did i say they are refusing?? they told me they dont do it, nothing about he is still weeping or new spots are there...flat out said we dont issue certificates or write letters....please read a post in full before wasting your time posting something that isnt even mentioned.

EssexExile

My old doctor would do it - Mr Exile is fit to fly, signed & practice stamp. £35 please. But he was a lone GP who did his own thing, I'm not sure the new multi doctor practice would be so obliging, although for £35 a time they should give it a try.

tanith

Most GP's will write letter for a fee maybe you should ring and ask the receptionist if this is possible..

missbiggles1

Sorry, I think you're irresponsible to even consider going on holiday in this situation - not so much for your son's sake but for everybody else's.

schwam66

tanith wrote: »

Most GP's will write letter for a fee maybe you should ring and ask the receptionist if this is possible..

thanks for replying, have rang a few other nhs gp's who say they all do it but again its a fee(which i am more than happy to pay) so crazy this doctor flat out said we dont do it....do you think ringing and asking the receptionist will do anything with the doctor actually saying they dont do it?

schwam66

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Sorry, I think you're irresponsible to even consider going on holiday in this situation - not so much for your son's sake but for everybody else's.

its my understanding that once they start to scab over your no longer a risk to anyone, i'm no doctor so can only go on what i have read on the nhs website, my son is scabbing hasnt had any new blisters since sunday, i'm not just some maverick that doesnt care about others thats why i am seeking clarification on this as i could easily toss a bit of concealer on his face and smuggle him on as he only has a couple on his face...would rather do it properlly...fair enough if the doctor says i am wrong and still contagious then they do a not fit to fly form and i claim insurance and we go another time....