Travel health courses, resources and events

NaTHNaC

The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website offers a range of factsheets on travel health on its TravelHealthPro eBook. 

An advice line is also available for health professionals who have queries about complex travel scenarios. 

Public Health Scotland (PHS) TRAVAX

TRAVAX is an interactive NHS website (registration required) providing up-to-date health information for UK health care professionals who advise the public about avoiding illness and staying healthy when travelling abroad.

Fitfortravel

Fitfortravel is a free, interactive, public access website providing current health information for the UK public on avoiding illness and staying healthy when travelling abroad.

Changes to travel health service provision in Scotland

In 2022 the process to access travel health services in Scotland changed and Fitfortravel became the national entry point for travellers seeking to access the free travel advice and vaccines provided by NHS Scotland. This applies only to travellers living in Scotland.

Health care advice for the LGBT community

A national survey by the Government Equalities Office highlighted that LGBT people’s experience of health care in the UK is often not as good as those who are not from the LGBT community. 

This can be due to health care providers lack of knowledge on the specific health needs of LGBT patients. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) LGBT Health Hub provides a collection of online modules, podcasts and screencasts. 

These aim to inform and update members of the general practice team on important aspects of primary care for LGBT people and improve experience and outcomes for patients. 

Practitioners are encouraged to complete all six modules along with the LGBT Health post-learning assessment section. 

The Faculty of Travel Medicine (FTM)

The Faculty of Travel Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) offers lifelong learning, which includes educational courses and examinations to support travel health professionals throughout their careers. 

See: FTM courses. Nurses can join the FTM as Affiliate Members and benefit from access to publications and reduced conference fees.

The FTM publication Good practice guide for providing a travel health service, which defines the standards of care every travel health practitioner should achieve to ensure the health and safety of the international traveller. A competency assessment tool is included. 

This document should be used alongside the RCN guidance document Travel Health nursing: career and competence development.

FTM courses

Professional Development Certificate in Travel Medicine

The RCPSG/FTM offers a Professional Development Certificate (PDC) in Travel Medicine. The course is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of doctors, nurses and pharmacists working within Travel Medicine. Other relevant health care professionals interested in this area may be considered.

The standard timeframe for this course is six months, but individuals have the flexibility of working at their own pace. The course has four core modules:

1. Pre-Travel Risk Assessment and Management.
2. Travel Related Infections.
3. Malaria and Mosquito Borne Diseases.
4. Immunology and Immunisations.

On successful completion, a Professional Development Certificate (PDC) in Travel Medicine will be awarded by the RCPSG. Students have the option of two start dates over the year. Applications are now open for 25 March 2024 and 23 September 2024.

Post Graduate Diploma in Travel Medicine

The RCPSG/FTM offers a Post Graduate Diploma in Travel Medicine. The course is designed to develop and support health care professionals in their role as travel medicine practitioners. The course consists of eight postgraduate modules delivered over 18 months.

Cohort three will begin in January 2025 with a residential week of learning. The second residential is planned for October 2025. The residential weeks are mandatory. Applications from students requesting online participation will be considered.

Epidemiology, Immunology and Travel Risk Assessment.

1. Vector Borne Infections.
2. Non-Vector Borne Infections.
3. Environmental Factors and Travel.
4. Advanced Research Methods.
5. The Complex Traveller – Pre and Post Travel.
6. Medical Conditions and Travel.
7. Governance, Legal and Ethical Considerations.

Those who complete the course will be eligible for admission to Membership of the Faculty of Travel Medicine MFTM RCPSG.

Progression to MSc Advanced Practice (Travel Medicine)

On successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Travel Medicine, diplomates will be eligible to progress to a final course of study, offered by Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), leading to the award of MSc Advanced Practice (Travel Medicine).

This is a 60-credit dissertation module, completed over two trimesters in a six-month period. The dissertation would build on the work begun during the Postgraduate Diploma. For more information or to sign up, visit the Glasgow Caledonian University website.   

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) offers a part-time and fully online Professional Diploma in Travel Health, educational programme, jointly developed with the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and LSTM’s Well Travelled Clinics (WTC). 

The diploma course consists of 4 modules: 

• Travel Vaccination Principles and Practice.
• Governance and Safety in Travel Health.
• Malaria Prevention in Travel Health.
• Hazards in Travel Health.

Developed and presented by doctors and nurses with extensive and diverse experience in travel health, this unique educational programme offers an opportunity for both new and experienced practitioners to advance or enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies in the discipline. View full details of each module and how to apply for either standalone modules or the diploma. 

The RCN offers various educational and professional development grants, and other funding opportunities. You do not have to be an RCN member to apply.

Other organisations offering events and resources, include:

• British Global and Travel Health Association (BGTHA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
• International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM)
• LSTM Travel Vaccinations: principles and practice
• LSTM Malaria Prevention in Travel Health
• Jane Chiodini's travel health resources
• RCGP, LGBT Health Hub
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Faculty of Travel Medicine
• Travel-health Education and Care (TREC).

Upcoming events

Joint RCN NaTHNaC 7th annual conference
23 March 2024 
Location: Online

Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM9)
22-24 May 2024
Location: Tivoli Hotel and Congress Centre, Copenhagen Denmark.  

RCN Members can apply for a discounted registration fee for NECTM9. You will need your PIN to apply. 

CISTM19  
International Society of Travel Medicine. 
11-15 May 2025 
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana USA.