UEA Healthcare Electives

Electives fall into two categories. The risk category will determine whether or not you will need to be seen by a specialist Travel Health Nurse. 

Low Risk Group

These electives will be in the UK, EU/EEA Countries, Scandinavia, North America, Australia or New Zealand. The majority will not need any travel input but some destinations or institutions eg; North America, may require tests such as a chest x-ray, blood test or MRSA swab.  All tests are payable in advance and a price will be given on application/request.

If your elective fits within this category, is listed below, and you need any of the aforementioned, you should contact us on 01603 251600 and ask for a Low Risk Elective appointment which will cost £15.00.

Uncertain Risk Group

These electives are for all destinations not listed above. If your approved elective is outside the low risk area you will need an Travel Risk Assessment which is carried out by a specialist Travel Health nurse. This assessment must be carried out at the UEA Medical Centre in order for a certificate to be sent to your school, to prove fitness to work in an overseas healthcare institution of your choice. 

This will cost £30. Payment must be taken at the time of booking the appointment. This cost is not covered under the NHS.

Process

1. Download and complete in advance the Healthcare Elective Travel Risk Assessment form and bring this to the initial appointment. The risk assessment will not be performed without this form it and it is not possible to complete this during the consultation.  
2. If you are not registered with a GP at the UEA Medical Centre, you must obtain an immunisation history from your GP surgery and bring this with you to your initial appointment.
3. Failure to bring all necessary documents may result in a requirement for you to book an additional appointment.
4. If you are planning on further travel either before or after your elective, you should bring details of countries/places you intend to visit.
5. Contact reception to pay and book your initial ‘elective travel risk assessment’ appointment. Clinics will have been arranged according to timetable availability.  You are strongly advised to book your appointment as soon as you know where you are going as this is a specialist nurse clinic with limited availability.
6. Find out from your placement contacts whether HIV PEP drugs are available locally. Confirmation of this may save significant costs as these drugs are very expensive.
7. Ensure that you keep your appointment. Failure to complete this process to obtain your ‘Fitness to Travel Certificate’ can result in your elective placement being cancelled.
8. If you fail to attend your appointment, you may need a further appointment which could delay your travel. DO NOT LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE – some immunisation programmes can take 6-8 weeks to complete. The later you leave it, the fewer appointments available and you may not get all your vaccinations done in time. 

Immunisations 

Following your travel health risk assessment you may be advised to have a series of immunisations and UMS will be able to provide all immunisations. You do not have to be registered with us to use this service. The only charges will be for vaccines and other travel medicines that the NHS prohibits us from providing at NHS expense.

If you choose to have your vaccinations at another GP surgery other than UMS, you will need to provide documentary evidence of the vaccine details. This should be returned to UMS who can generate a certificate of fitness to engage in elective and for the prescription of an HIV post-exposure pack when appropriate. Costs may be higher at other GP surgeries.

Completion of Travel Risk Assessment & Certification

This will be available for you when you have attended your travel health risk assessment appointment, completed your immunisations and provided documentary evidence of any vaccinations received elsewhere. A copy will also be sent to your school as proof you have been cleared for your elective. Another GP practice may be able to produces such a certificate, but this will not be accepted by your school.  

HIV PEP (Starter Pack) Prescription

It is your responsibility to ensure you have access to HIV PEP throughout your elective period.  An HIV PEP prescription will be issued once you have attended your travel health risk assessment appointment to ensure you have a supply of HIV PEP if it is not available at your elective destination. The medical centre has an arrangement with Boots Eaton (inside Waitrose) Pharmacy to provide specially prepared starter packs. We have been informed they cost in the region of £260 and can take approximately 2 weeks to obtain. You will be responsible for any charges.

Charges

The NHS does not fund travel health services in a comprehensive way. Some immunisations are available on the NHS but many are not. We try to keep any charges we have to pass on to students as small as possible but they have to cover the costs involved.  Other practices may charge different fees for immunisations. A list of vaccination fees can be found on the Travel Vaccinations tab above.

A list of vaccination fees can be found on the Travel Vaccinations tab above.