Our specially trained nurses provide travel health advice, immunisations and vaccinations.
To book into the travel clinic:
Please contact reception and ask for a pre-travel questionnaire to be sent to you – the link to complete this can be sent via SMS text message. If you aren’t able to complete this form online using your mobile, please pop into the surgery and ask for a paper copy at the the front desk.
Once this form has been completed, reception staff will then book you a 20 minute appointment.
Sufficient time between your appointment and travel is necessary, as some vaccinations require more that one dose. Please make sure that your appointment is at least 8 weeks before travel. If there is not sufficient time between your appointment and travel your vaccinations may not be able to be completed.
NORTHENDEN GROUP PRACTICE
Benzodiazepines
Northenden Group Practice has taken the decision not to prescribe benzodiazepines
including diazepam for fear of flying, dental appointments, and scans.
Northenden Group Practice has taken the decision not to write letters for pregnant patients
wishing to fly.
APPLICABILITY
This has been a medical decision due to safety for the following reasons:
1) Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there is an
emergency during the flight it may impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions and
react to the situation. This could have serious safety consequences for you and those around
you.
2) Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is unnatural
non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This
can cause you to be at increased risk of developing a blood clot (DVT) in the leg or even the
lung. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if
your flight is greater than 4 hours.
3) Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have
paradoxical agitation and in aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to
behave in a way that you would not normally. This could impact on your safety as well as
that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law.
4) According to the BNF (prescribing guidelines) benzodiazepines are contraindicated (not
allowed) in phobia. Your doctor is taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these
guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the
case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going
on a flight.
5) Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in several countries. They may be confiscated, or
you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
6) Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If your job requires you to submit to
random drug testing, you may fail this having taken diazepam.
We appreciate that fear of flying is very real and very frightening. A much better approach is
to tackle this properly with a Fear of Flying course run by the airlines. You may also alert
your cabin crew at the beginning of your flight.
If patients require sedation for any hospital medical appointments e.g., scans or dental
appointment it is the responsibility of the service providing the care to do sedation as
required.
Northenden Group Practice
Dated: September 2023