Planning a trip abroad? Whether it’s a tropical holiday, business trip, backpacking adventure or family visit, it’s important to make sure your health is looked after before you fly. That’s where our travel health consultation at Ready Health Clinic comes in.

To give you the best protection possible, we’ll ask a few key questions during your travel consultation. These help us assess your risks and plan any vaccinations or medications you might need.

Here’s what we’ll need to know:

🗺 1. Your Travel Destination(s)

Different countries—and even different regions within the same country—can carry very different risks. For example, rural parts of a country may have a higher risk of malaria or rabies, while urban areas may pose less risk but still require protection against diseases like hepatitis A or typhoid.

We’ll use your destination details to check:

Disease prevalence
Local environmental risks (e.g. altitude, water quality)
Healthcare standards
Any travel restrictions or alerts

👉 Tip: Be specific! If you're visiting multiple countries or travelling to both city and countryside locations, let us know.

📅 2. Your Departure Date

Timing is everything when it comes to travel vaccines. Some vaccines need to be given as a course over several weeks, while others work quickly.

By telling us your departure date, we can:

Plan your vaccine schedule properly
Ensure you’ve had enough time for immunity to develop
Provide last-minute protection if you’re travelling soon (it’s never too late to get some cover!)

🕒 3. How Long You’ll Be Away

The longer your trip, the greater the exposure to potential health risks—especially if you’re travelling off the beaten path. Over time, travellers may become less cautious with food, hygiene, and safety. Some malaria prevention medicines also change depending on trip length.

We’ll use your length of stay to:

Tailor your malaria chemoprophylaxis (if needed)
Offer realistic prevention and safety advice
Recommend items like rehydration salts or first aid kits for longer trips

🧳 4. Purpose of Travel

Are you heading away for leisure, work, or to visit family? Your reason for travel affects the type of activities you’re likely to do—and therefore the risks you may face.

For example:

Holidaymakers may engage in water sports, eat street food, or go trekking
Volunteers and business travellers might work in remote locations or healthcare settings
Those visiting friends and relatives may stay in local housing, assuming they have some natural immunity—often incorrectly

Understanding your travel purpose helps us give personalised, realistic advice.

🏨 5. Type of Accommodation

Staying in a high-end hotel with air-con and filtered water? Or sleeping in tents, hostels, or local homes? The quality of your accommodation directly affects your exposure to insects, contaminated food or water, and hygiene standards.

Knowing this helps us assess risk for things like:

Malaria and dengue (mosquito-borne illnesses)
Food- and water-borne illnesses (e.g. typhoid, cholera)
Injuries or environmental hazards

💰 6. Your Budget

While everyone deserves a safe trip, budget constraints may limit your options when it comes to accommodation, transport, or food choices. This can increase your exposure to unsafe water, poor sanitation, or risky activities.

During your consultation, we can help you:

Prioritise essential vaccines and malaria prevention
Find affordable and safe options
Emphasise the importance of travel insurance—especially cover for emergency medical repatriation

🏥 7. Healthcare Standards at Your Destination

If you’re travelling to a country with limited medical facilities, we’ll recommend precautions like:

Taking a basic first aid kit
Carrying spare prescriptions and medical documents
Ensuring you have comprehensive health insurance, including cover for emergency care and evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a chronic condition like diabetes or asthma.

Why We Ask These Questions

It’s not just box-ticking. The information you give us allows our healthcare team to:
✅ Determine your personal travel health risks
✅ Create a tailored vaccination plan
✅ Offer relevant travel safety advice
✅ Ensure you’re fully prepared for your trip

Ready to Book Your Travel Health Appointment?

Our experienced clinicians at Ready Health Clinic in Standish are here to help. Whether you need vaccinations, malaria tablets, or advice about taking your regular medication abroad, we’ve got you covered.

📞 Call us today or book online for a travel health consultation tailored to your trip.