Medicine Supply For Patients Travelling Or Living Abroad
Last Updated: Tuesday, 31 March 2026Under NHS legislation, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for people when they leave the UK. However, to ensure good patient care please refer to the guidance below for prescribing.
Plan Ahead
If you are taking medicines for a health condition, and you are planning on being away from home for a while, it's good to be prepared. The practice asks that any requests for medication needed for travel is requested at least one month in advance. Click here for further advice on the provision of healthcare services whilst abroad.
Going Abroad For Less Than Three Months
The practice will usually be willing to prescribe up to a maximum of three months’ supply of your regular medicines in any 12 month rolling period for travelling, if clinically appropriate. However, please be aware that the actual quantity of any prescription would depend on the GPs clinical judgement. If a medicine requires frequent monitoring or your clinical condition is not stable, it may not be appropriate for us to prescribe for such an extended period. Please be aware that we will need to see evidence of your return travel in order for us to consider giving a three month supply; otherwise we will only be able to issue a one month supply.
'Just-In-Case’ Treatments
Please note that we are not responsible for prescribing medication required for non pre-existing conditions that are requested solely in anticipation that they may arise whilst travelling, e.g. diarrhoea medicine, travel sickness or diazepam for anxious flyers. Instead, patients are advised to purchase these items locally prior to travel; advice is available from community pharmacists if required.
Controlled And Other High Risk Medication
It is recommended by the CQC; Department of Health and the GMC) that the prescribed quantity of controlled medications are limited to 30 days. This is the maximum length that we are willing to put on a repeat prescription and prescribe for patients travelling abroad. However, please note that we may need to reduce the prescription length to less than this. The same may apply to any other medications which has the potential to cause harm such as opiates.
Going Abroad For More Than Three Months
The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004 state that a person who leaves the UK with the intention of being away for a period of at least three months is removed from the doctor's list and, as a consequence, ceases to be eligible for NHS treatment. If you are no longer resident in the UK and are living abroad, the NHS normally won't pay for any treatment or services. This includes people who are in receipt of UK state retirement pensions. The term ‘no longer resident’ means that you have left the country for more than three months. Therefore you will have to obtain healthcare cover in the country you are in, or get private medical insurance. If you are going abroad for more than 3 months then all you are entitled to on the NHS is a sufficient supply of your regular medication to get to your destination and find an alternative supply of your medication. You should take a copy of your repeat medication list with you. It may be worthwhile having your prescription translated into the language of the country or countries that you will be visiting.
For longer visits abroad, i.e. where you live out of area for part of the year, patients are advised to register with a local doctor for continuing medication. Patients may need to pay for this medication yourself. It is advisable that you check with the manufacturer that the medicines you require are available in the country being visited.
Travelling With Your Medication
You will need to find out whether there are any restrictions on taking your medicines in and out of the UK or the country you are visiting, as some medicines that are available over the counter in the UK may be controlled in other countries and vice versa. If you are in any doubt, you should declare them at customs when you return. For example, some prescribed medicines such as morphine are controlled drugs, so the amount you can take abroad is limited. If you need to take more than the maximum allowance with you, you'll need a special license from the Home Office.
Some countries have very specific rules about medications that you can, or cannot, bring into the country. If you are unsure about taking your medication into a certain country, contact the appropriate embassy or high commission. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website provides the relevant contact details for every country.
It is best to be fully informed on carrying medication aboard.
Local Protocols
As well as following national guidelines, the practice also follows local protocols for safe prescribing for patients travelling or living abroad or otherwise absent from the UK.