Going on holiday

For many of us, holidays are a time to travel and explore new places. Travelling when you have spina bifida or hydrocephalus might need a little more preparation, but for most people it will be possible to get away for a great trip!


Destination

For a first trip abroad, or if your health means being within easy reach of certain healthcare facilities, there are some extra steps involved in planning travel. First pick the country you want to visit, then search the internet for the hospitals/healthcare services you might need in the region you'll be travelling to. It will then be easier to pick a destination within a couple of hour’s travel, if you need to. 

For example if you need to be close to a neurosurgical centre, then you would search for 'neurosurgery’ (adding paediatric if you need something for your child) in the destination region. 

In Europe, this is a good starting place for finding neurosurgery centres: https://www.eans.org/page/European_Neurosurgical_Centers 

Long cruises might be fine if your condition is stable, but can be difficult to get off if you become ill. For that reason, it may be difficult or very expensive to find suitable insurance for cruises.

In developing countries or remote regions access to healthcare might be limited so you'll need to do your research and plan carefully. It's important to remember that healthcare abroad isn't always free to use at the point of use, like the NHS is, and the availability and quality of the facilities may vary. Please also note that Shine are not able to suggest the names of any hospitals abroad.

Speak to your travel insurers for advice as there may be restrictions on where you can access care. You may also want to contact hospitals/medical facilities in advance to check they would be able to meet your medical and access needs (including language). You could also find out what their charging policy and processes are.

 

Flying

Flying in a regular commercial jet is fine for most people with shunts. If you were told years ago not to fly, it's worth asking your neurosurgeon again as things have changed. Some people will have been told by their neurosurgeon not to fly, for specific reasons, so do check if this applies to you.

Flying in a small, unpressurised plane may not be wise for people with shunts.

 

Insurance

Do make sure your insurance covers you for your existing conditions, and you give them accurate information about appointments or confirmed future investigations. If you are under the care of several consultants, check whether your insurer wants to know the total number of appointments, or how often you see each one. Small errors can be costly in the event of a claim.

When travelling in Europe it is wise to take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) card with you. The GHIC replaces the EHIC now the UK has left the EU. When your EHIC expires, you can get a GHIC from the NHS website. 

Although the EHIC and GHIC are important, don't rely on them solely, you still need insurance. The cards alone won't guarantee access to the right facilities, or that staff will speak your language, and won't help with the extra costs of getting home if you can't get your flight, or accommodation costs for family members who may have to remain with you. For this reason, always insure all your party on one policy, even if this is more expensive than separate policies.

Check that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to do on holiday. Try the mainstream insurance companies first, but if you have difficulties, Shine have a suggested list of specialist providers.

 

Getting ready to go

You might want to ask your hospital for a copy of your most recent scan on a USB memory stick, so if you need a scan on holiday, they can compare it to your last one. Get any prescriptions you will need ahead of time, with spares, just in case, and a copy of your prescription, in case you need to show why you are travelling with certain medicines.

Signing up to Shine Health Direct might help you get these things ready. Split your tablets and other health essentials between your hand luggage and your hold luggage, in case one is mislaid. If you have liquid medicine, put some in a 100ml bottle, clearly labelled, and place it in a clear plastic bag (supplied at the airport) to have in your hand luggage.

Pack some headache tablets, and tablets such as Imodium for upset stomachs. If you use intermittent catheterisation, all-in-one kits with bags can be convenient, as well as hand cleanser and extra wipes.

 

At the airport

Magnetic security wands have been reported anecdotally on very rare occasions to reset certain programmable valves. If you have an MRI resistant shunt you don't need to take any precautions, and if you’re unsure what type you have, check with your hospital. 

If your programmable valve is not MRI resistant, let the airport security staff know that you need to follow the same precautions as people with heart pacemakers, and take your shunt alert card with you. Whole body scanners, which use X-Rays or millimeter Waves, will have no effect on shunts. 

 

On holiday

If it's very hot, be sure to drink plenty of water - bottled water is best if you are abroad. Don't forget to check our advice on Coping in hot weather, and our page on foot care has good advice for holidays too. Most importantly, have fun!

 

Some useful links for further information:


Accessible holiday providers: