Pre-travel consultations can be complex and time-consuming — none more so than those involving a cruise. Cruise travel is a booming industry and approximately two million cruises were taken by UK-based passengers in 2014 (Department of Transport, 2015) and it is estimated that globally 24 million people will take a cruise this year (Cruise Lines International Association [CLIA], 2016).
Cruise ships may carry anything from a few hundred passengers and crew to up to 5,000, and the cruise may last just a couple of days to several months. The trip may involve a long haul flight at either end, a land-based tour at the final destination or a round-trip from the UK. Although the Caribbean and editerranean are the most popular destinations, cruise operators are constantly adding new and varied ports of call. Cruise itineraries can often seem daunting, especially to the busy general practice nurse (GPN) and this article outlines what a pre-travel consultation should include.
A pre-travel consultation should be a complete health promotion exercise and not merely a matter of administering vaccines. It needs to involve a full risk assessment during which the individual, the journey and destination are examined for potential hazards. Risk management strategies then need to be discussed. Essentially, general practice nurses (GPNs) should facilitate the patient’s choice of interventions by educating them appropriately and allowing them to make informed choices. The traveller needs to leave the consultation aware of the potential risks of their trip and how to prevent or manage them. In order to do this well, GPNs should have sufficient time and access to online resources. This article looks at best practice in the pre-travel consultation.
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