The BMA has raised concerns about ongoing airline requirements for travellers to bring a GP letter explaining medicines in their luggage.
Its GP Committee first raised the issue in July when it stressed that practices did not have to provide the information for free or at all and said that it would ‘raise this issue’ with offending airline EasyJet.
Now, the GPC has raised fresh concerns, saying that EasyJet’s advice remains ‘unclear’.
Its latest email bulletin, sent to GPs yesterday, said: ‘We are aware that some airlines are advising travellers bringing medication in their hand luggage should bring a letter from their medical practitioner confirming the type of medication and what it is for.’
Linking to guidance on EasyJet’s website, it added: ‘We have raised this issue with the airline, who advised that if a passenger packs their medication in their hold luggage, they do not require any of their medical information.
‘However, if a passenger seeks to carry their essential medication in their cabin luggage, and the form of the medication contravenes aviation regulations eg the use of sharps, liquids more than 100ml or oxygen cylinders, they require the passenger to produce confirmation from their healthcare practitioner that the medication is necessary to be carried as it may be required on board.’
But the GPC pointed out that Easyjet’s advice is still ‘unclear’ because its website ‘advises passengers to take their medication in their hand luggage and it does not specify which sort of medication requires a letter’.
The GPC said: ‘We have therefore written to the airline again asking for their webpage to be updated accordingly.’
EasyJet’s advice for patients said: ‘We advise you to take your medication in your hand baggage.
‘Please bring a letter from your medical practitioner confirming the type of medication and what it is for.’
Pulse has asked Easyjet whether it will update its online advice.
A spokesperson said: ‘We are grateful to the BMA for their feedback and following our reply to them we are in the process of updating our website to make our policy more clear for our customers.’
Meanwhile, the GPC stressed that ‘practices may choose to do this private work but are not obliged to do so’.
It reiterated that they ‘should advise patients that they can print off their medical records from the NHS app, or alternatively, practices can charge for travel-related requests for information’.
In July, an EasyJet spokesperson confirmed to Pulse that its advice only applies to prescribed medication.
They added that travellers bringing prescribed medication must bring a medical certificate or a copy of their prescription and that they must also present a medical certificate to airport security if any medicines in liquid or gel form exceed 100ml.
They said that this requirement is also the case for other airlines as this is in line with Government guidelines.
But the airline has not updated its online advice to reflect this clarification it provided to Pulse three months ago.
Previously, the BMA warned that some airlines – including EasyJet – were still asking travellers exempt from wearing a face mask to obtain a medical certificate against Government guidance.
I can give my expert opinion on the above for 50 Guineas, keep it coming!
BMA seeking to deprive members of an income stream.
Keep up the good work guys!
BMA has nothing useful to do?