Gaps in basic knowledge about their health could mean expats are putting themselves at risk, according to Aviva UK Health.
Given that medical records are not automatically transferred overseas when people move to live or work abroad, many of the 5.5m people considering leaving Britain1, could find themselves on foreign shores without a record of their previous health.
An Aviva My Health Passport study revealed:
69% of people don't know their blood pressure
63% don't know their blood group
50% of respondents are either not up to date with their tetanus/diphtheria vaccinations, or don't know whether they are up to date with their injections
Nearly one in five women (18%) don't know when they had their last smear test
Over a third (35%) have struggled to remember their medical history when they've changed GP as a result of a house move
To help fill this knowledge gap, Aviva has produced ‘My Health Passport'. It is available in two formats, a short downloadable version to capture useful information such as personal details, blood group, illnesses and GP and insurance provider contact details, and a printed booklet to capture details relating to screenings, vaccinations, operations and wellness checks.
Teresa Rogers, Business Lead for International PMI at Aviva said:"Unfortunately, medical records are not easily accessible, particularly as they aren't automatically transferred by your GP. Easy access to personal health information can be vital, particularly in a medical emergency situation or when visiting a GP or pharmacist abroad. We've developed My Health Passport as we want to encourage people to remember to take this information with them."
Aviva's My Health Passport can be downloaded from www.aviva.co.uk/healthpassport. A printed version can be requested from [email protected].
