by Bill Heaney
It’s the traditional Dumbarton Fair Holiday Fortnight. Holidaymakers heading to Helensburgh or Honolulu or anywhere else over the summer are being warned not to let a simple mistake turn into a stressful health scare by forgetting their essential medicines when they travel away from home.
NHS 24 reveals that they often receive alerts from panicked travellers who have headed off on holiday – only to realise they have left vital prescriptions like inhalers, insulin, blood pressure tablets, or other needed medications at home.
Dr John McAnaw, Associate Clinical Director at NHS 24, right, says: “It happens more frequently than you might think. People arrive at their destination ready to enjoy themselves, then suddenly realise their medicine is still at home. It can quickly turn a relaxing break into a stressful one.”
Missing doses of medicine, even for a short time, can have a real impact – particularly for people managing long-term health conditions. Therefore, NHS 24 is urging people to take a moment before they travel, whether it’s a fortnight abroad or a weekend away, to check they have everything they need.
Dr McAnaw added: “It doesn’t matter if you are jetting off to Jamaica or camping in the Cairngorms. Remember to take your medicine with you as it might not be easy to replace when you get there, especially if you are in an unfamiliar or remote area.”
As part of its summer campaign, NHS 24 is promoting its Pack, Plan, Protect messaging. That means packing essential medicine, planning with remedies for any health needs such as bites, stings, or hay fever, and protecting yourself and loved ones during any spells of hot weather.
“Before you head off on your summer adventure, just take a moment to check you’ve packed what you need,” advises Dr McAnaw.
“Make sure in advance that you’ve got enough medicine for your whole trip, keep it somewhere easy to reach such as your hand luggage, and check how it should be stored – especially in warm weather.
“These are really easy steps, but they can save you a lot of hassle at a time when you should be enjoying yourself on your well-earned break.”
- For more summer health tips from NHS 24 visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/summer
About us
We are Scotland’s provider of digital and telephone-based health and care services. Our services include:
- 111 – providing urgent care triage for anyone who thinks they need A&E, but it is not life or limb threatening, support for those in mental health distress and advice when their GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
- NHSinform.scot – Scotland’s online health information service that offers quality-assured health and care information including a symptom checker, Scotland’s Service Directory and Mental health advice and resources.
- Breathing Space a free and confidential phone and web chat service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression, or anxiety.
- Care Information Scotland (CIS) a phone, webchat and website service providing information about care services for people living in Scotland.
- Quit Your Way Scotland is an advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland.
- Living Life a phone service that offers support to people in Scotland who are experiencing low mood, mild to moderate depression or symptoms of anxiety through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
NHS 24 Online app
Our app ‘NHS 24 Online’ provides people in Scotland with an additional channel to find out more about their symptoms, how to safely self-manage illnesses and conditions, and when and where to see further medical advice if required. NHS 24 Online is free and can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.
Social media
For more details on our services, including current campaigns and recruitment, have a look at our social media: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.
Recruitment
For all applicants hoping to join the organisation, the careers section of our website provides key information including:
- links to current vacancies
- videos of staff discussing their roles
- details of the recruitment process
- benefits of working for NHS 24 and top tips for a successful application.
Accessibility
Work is continually ongoing to ensure our services are accessible.
You can access 111 in diverse ways:
- Language Line – If English is not your first or preferred language, you can use the free interpretation service Language Line.
- British Sign Language (BSL) – If you use BSL, you can use the free BSL interpreting video relay service Contact Scotland BSL.
- Relay UK. – If you use a textphone, you can contact NHS 24 on 18001 111. Or you can contact NHS 24 with the Relay UK app.
NHS inform provides health information online in 24 different languages, British Sign Language (BSL), Audio, Easy Read, and Large Print. For more information on this, see: nhsinform.scot/translations/