To think GPs shouldn’t charge for these letters?

Same here, I went in with about 150 codeine tablets amongst others and just had my prescription and tablets in the original boxes with the pharmacy label.

Didn’t have an issue when I had to take everything out at security.

I got a letter from the hospital when I was travelling with biological meds for Crohn’s - try your IBD nurse or consultants secretary

Your consultant should have written to your GP when she or he started you in the meds. They usually write to the gp after each appointment to summarise it.

find that letter (it’s often copied to you, or will be on the nhs app under correspondence) and take that.

Just seen it’s a biologic which I am also on. I have an app that I arrange delivery through, that shows my prescription and they have accepted that just fine in the airport. It’s only for security, the plane, nobody cares as you have passed security.

It’s the typical cost. These letters aren’t covered by their NHS contracts, so you’re essentially saying you think they should be using NHS time to do a private task!

People can’t loan they can’t get an appointment and then ask the GP to fill time doing stuff like this. There’s lots of good suggestions here on alternatives.

I work in a field where patients are on biologics and we always tell patients to contact the pharmaceutical company for a letter. Never heard of anyone having problems when they take those letters with them.

You think they should work for nothing?

Won’t a copy of the prescription do?

The GP's priority is NHS work and corresponding with other medical people/departments not free letters to TUI or Easyjet.

The amount of admin time that gets taken up with insurance claims, pip claims and letters like yours would take away from the time needed to send referrals, it’s only right if the GPs are doing additional private work like this that they charge for it.

Surely there is a prescription label on the product delivered?

ds has an injectable medication and never has any issue travelling with it - in his case the syringe is separate from the medication itself but as the medicine is labelled it’s clear why the rest of the kit is needed

There's no prescription label from the pharmacy stating your name and medication details on the packaging?

It would be very odd for somebody not to have any letter or documentation at all with the name of the medication written somewhere. Surely when you were first prescribed it the hospital sent a letter to the GP?

You don’t need this letter, you just need a print out of your regular prescriptions and to take your injections with the box they come in to show is prescribed to you. I know, I’m on the same story of thing for an auto immune issue and I regularly taster medication abroad with me. Never ever had a problem. I flat pack the box, put the injection in a cold pack pencil case type thing and pop my prescription print out in the case. Never ever been asked for more information.

Is there a specialist nurse at your unit? They might be easier to get in contact with and supply with a letter

Or do you have a specialist nurse who acts as a liaison for you with the hospital team?

Unfortunately for you, this is not part of your GP's role. As you say, they're easier to get hold of than hospital consultants sometimes, but that doesn't make it their job and it's very easy for them to get totally swamped with requests that aren't their job to the point that they can't do the things that are their job

So, the GP isn’t the prescriber? If anything you need the person who prescribes, but more generally there should be an associated cost - it’s not core business. As to whether £55 is reasonable, it seems high, but their time is valuable too.

Depending on where you are going, could you get a valid prescription for that place in case they do take the pen from you?

Can you have a look at the hospital letters to your GP that are stored in your NHS app? One of those might mention your medication?

My meds are the same. I have a letter from the IBD team stating that I need to take them in hand luggage.

It wasn't checked going to the States but will find out next week for going to Australia.

Is this an option for you?

I recently flew to the USA with medication in hand luggage (and you likely know what they are like) and didn't need a letter. Just the medication in my name.

Speak to the company who arrange the delivery of the medication.

I get medication delivered by Lloyds Clinical and they provide a letter free of charge for travelling.

If it’s prescribed you must have a prescription? Unless it’s a private prescription? Is it weight loss medication? Insulin, B12 etc would be on your nhs notes.

I have to pay £40 for my child’s medication letter. Never asked for it in Europe but have needed it in the States. I agree it’s outrageous. Can’t cost more than a few pounds to do it.

Not injectables, but DD has flown with liquid Piriton (over 100ml) and all we ever had to show was the prescribing label on the bottle.

I also used to carry a copy of the repeat prescription, but never had to show it.

Have you checked the requirements for the airports?