The practice look to accommodate patients needs for prolonged travel but also follow national NHS guidance:
PATIENTS LIVING/TRAVELLING ABROAD FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS OF THE YEAR
The NHS accepts responsibility for supplying on-going medication for temporary periods
abroad of up to 3 months. If a person is going to be abroad for more than three months
then all that the patient is entitled to at NHS expense is a sufficient supply of his/her
regular medication to get to the destination and find an alternative supply of that medication.
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Patients travelling outside the UK • If a person is going to be abroad for over 3 months then all they are entitled to at NHS expense is a sufficient supply of regular medications to get to the destination and find an alternative supply of that medication(1,2). Patients should check on arrangements for obtaining prescribed medicines in the country they intend to visit before leaving the UK(1). • The NHS’s duty of care regarding prescribing ends where a patient has been absent, or intends to be away from the United Kingdom for a period of more than three months(3). Under no circumstances should the patient be issued with more than 3 months’ supply on going abroad. Further information is available on the NHS Choices website. Patients should be advised they need to check the regulations on taking medicines out of the UK and into the country they intend to visit(3) – further information is available on the NHS Choices website |
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References 1. NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/movingabroad/Pages/Introduction.aspx (accessed1.9.2017) 2. The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004. NHS England Statutory Instrument No.291 (accessed 1.9.2017) 3. NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1755.aspx (accessed 1.9.2017) |
