Setting up a travel health service

This page guides you through the steps we recommend to set up a travel health services in your pharmacy

How to set up a travel health service

Community pharmacies can support patients with travel health in a number of ways. This may start by simply offering appropriate over the counter travel health advice (all trained pharmacy support staff) or through travel health check service. The travel health service will enable patients to access expert advice on travel vaccinations and medication from a trained pharmacist. There is a demand for providing travel vaccinations in community pharmacy as not all GP practices offer vaccinations for travel and if they do, not all vaccinations are available via the NHS.

Ensure that all staff involved are suitably trained

Any member of the pharmacy team may be the first point of contact for a patient requesting advice relating to travel health. They should also be trained on the key aspects of the services you offer in the pharmacy, including price, consultation times/process and booking process, so they are able to advise patients appropriately. They should also be aware of basic OTC travel products and advice.

Our Training page, provides guidance about what training is available to pharmacists and pharmacy support staff.

Training essentials

Supplying prescription only treatments as part of your service

If you intend to provide a travel vaccinations and medicines, you could do this if you are an independent prescriber or you will need to have access to suitable PGDs. You may purchase a private PGD from one of our business partners here.

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Equipment and consultation room

In order for you to provide a travel health service, you must ensure that you have a suitable consultation room and the correct equipment.

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Prepare the key service documents

The NPA has developed resources to support you with the delivery of your travel health service including a risk assessment form and travel essentials checklist. Use this checklist to ensure that you have assisted the customer in obtaining all the other OTC and other products for their trip.

Checklist

Manage appointments

You can manage appointments by using a service booking diary. To smoothly manage appointments for your services, you can use the appointment booking systems available from NPA trusted partners HasHealth, Charac, GetClara and CityDoc.

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GP engagement

GP engagement for signposting to and other pharmacy services. Working in harmony with local GPs is of particular importance for services, as many GP practices do not provide travel vaccinations at the practice. This GP letter template may be used to advise your local GP practices of the services you offer in your pharmacy so that they can signpost patients to them.

Letter template

Promotional Materials

You can access and utilise a number of resources on NPA Connects to support the set up of your Travel Health Clinic in your Pharmacy. NPA Connects, will also allow you to market this service to your local area. Find out more today and maximise the potential of your Travel Health clinic.

Discover NPA Connects

Other important information

Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) guidance

Please ensure that you are familiar with the Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) guidance on the use of PGDs, which can be found here.

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MHRA Blue Guide

We also recommend that you are familiar with the MHRA Blue Guide which aims to provide guidance on advertising and promoting medicines.

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NICE guidelines

You may find it useful to read NICE guidelines on the use of PGDs.

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MHRA guidance

The MHRA guidance on ‘who can use a PGD’ which can be accessed here.

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Northern Ireland

If you are based in Northern Ireland, we recommend you refer to PSNI’s professional standards when advertising medicines and professional services. These can be found here.

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Scotland

If you are based in Scotland, please read the ‘Best Practice Statement PGDs’ from Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which can be found here.

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