Autism, Health Conditions & Family Travel
COMMON MEDICAL CONDITIONS
AND THEIR RELATED TRAVEL GUIDANCE
The list below contains some common health conditions that may put people off from travelling, an overview of how injuries and unplanned surgery may affect travel plans and what you need to know about travelling with medicines. Each page contains general information and helpful links with a focus on airline travel.
GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARDS (GHIC)
Since the UK left the European Union, the GHIC has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for most people. If you have a UK EHIC it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. You will then need to apply for a GHIC.
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This card allows you to access state-provided healthcare in European Union countries. There are different rules in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, so check the government or NHS websites for information.
GHICs are free of charge. You can apply online through the official GHIC page of the NHS website.
I have done this for the family and the process was simple and straightforward. The guidance says to allow up to 15 days for your card to arrive, but in busier periods it may take longer. To be on the safe side do this as far in advance as possible!
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Beware of using unofficial websites, which may charge you.
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The GHIC does not cover everything, so it is important that you also have travel insurance.
TRAVELLING WITH A HEALTH CONDITION IS CHALLENGING
When your child or another member of your family have additional needs and a health condition(s) travelling can feel even more out of reach. It's easy to think that it is all too difficult, simpler in fact just to stay at home. Sometimes managing the autism feels like the easy bit. I know, we've been there.
Our eldest son has childhood epilepsy syndrome and until the age of 6.5 was extremely allergic to milk and eggs as well as peanut and sesame (for which we still carry an epipen). The daytime vigilance of a parent whose child is allergic is off the charts, and the night time fear levels of parents whose child has complex febrile convulsions during night time hours is also intense. To be honest we were (and often are) exhausted. We find it difficult to trust the boys care to anyone else. Babysitters are a no go. We were doing it all ourselves. Eventually I realised that although the boys were safe as we could make them, never going away was taking its own toll on J and I.
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When Fred outgrew his milk and egg allergies and with his epilepsy generally well controlled - it was if a door started to open, and we began to feel that the benefits of going out into the world would finally outweigh the risks. We started slowly, going for a night away - and built from there.
Do I still plan exhaustively and make endless lists? Yes.
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Am I over the top checking and rechecking everything, particularly locations of hospitals and medicine supplies? Yes.
Have we ever had an emergency abroad? Well yes - and yes it was awful, and yes we all got through it.
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​I know these pages are not a one stop shop, but I really hope it encourages you to keep reading, and to find the information you need to feel just that little bit safer, and just that little bit braver to leave the house.
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Happy travels xx
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