Fallen Ill on Holiday in Edinburgh? A Guide for Overseas Visitors

If you become ill on holiday in Edinburgh and it is an everyday illnesses like the common cold, come to the pharmacy and speak to one of our team. If you are feeling more unwell and believe you may have, for example, an infection, then you can come to the pharmacy and speak to one of our Independent Prescribing (IP) Pharmacists. If it is an emergency, call 999.

This page explains what each one does, what you might have to pay and how to use your travel insurance. Need more of a medicine you take regularly? Start with our guide to medication help for tourists in Edinburgh.

Call 999 in an emergency

Call 999 for an ambulance if someone has any of these:

• chest pain, or great difficulty breathing
• a face that has dropped on one side, a weak arm or speech that has become confused
• swelling of the lips, mouth or throat after a food or medicine
• serious bleeding, or a serious injury
• a fit, or they cannot be woken
• a fever with a stiff neck or a rash that stays when you press a glass on it

You do not need to speak perfect English, and you do not need insurance details to call. Tell them your location, and they will send help.

Hospital emergency departments and what you pay

Emergency treatment in an accident and emergency department is free for visitors, whatever country you are from. You may be charged if you are then admitted to a ward or need outpatient care, depending on your nationality and any agreement your country has with the UK. Show your insurance details as soon as you can, and ask someone to contact your insurer's helpline for you.

Come to a pharmacy for everyday illnesses

You do not need to see a doctor for most of the things that spoil a holiday. A pharmacist can check your symptoms and suggest suitable over the counter treatments. Visitors most often ask us about:

• colds, coughs, sore throats and blocked ears after a flight
• diarrhoea, vomiting and upset stomachs
• sore feet and blisters from walking on the cobbles
• insect bites, sunburn, rashes and allergies
• headaches, period pain and back pain from long flights
• urinary symptoms and thrush

If you are feeling more unwell:

if you feel that you might have an infection such as:

• tonsillitis,
• a sinus infection,
• a chest infection,
• a urinary tract infection,
• a throat infection

You can still come to the pharmacy and speak to one of our Independent Prescribing (IP) pharmacists. They will be able to hold a private consultation and, if appropriate, write a prescription which can be dispensed at the pharmacy so that you can leave with the medication you require

There is more on the small problems visitors meet in our post on what to keep in your bag during festival season.

If you need a prescription medicine

Some medicines that you can buy freely at home need a prescription in the UK, and some that need a prescription at home can be bought here. Tell the pharmacist what you normally use, and they will explain the position. If you do need a prescription, then one of our independent prescribing pharmacists will be able to help where appropriate

Come in and see us

Come in during opening hours and ask for the pharmacist. You do not need an appointment or a prescription, and it does not matter where in Edinburgh you are staying. There is a private room for anything you would rather not say at the counter.

• Address: 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm (closed Sunday)
• Phone: 0131 225 7770

Using your travel insurance

Before you came, you should have taken out travel insurance with medical cover, because it pays for things the health service may not. If you need anything more than a simple purchase, phone your insurer's helpline, as some want to approve treatment first. Keep the receipt and invoice we will issue so you can claim.

Before you fly home

If you have a fever, a chest infection or anything getting worse, get advice before you travel. Airlines can refuse to carry people who seem too unwell to fly, and being ill in the air is much harder than being ill on the ground. Keep your medicines in your hand luggage, and when you get home, tell your own doctor what happened and what you were given.

Frequently asked questions from visitors who feel ill

Do I have to pay to see a pharmacist?

You only pay for any medicine you buy, and for a private prescription if you need one. We will tell you the price first, before we initiate a private consultation to make sure you are comfortable.

Will I need to show my passport?

Not to ask for advice. It is useful to have ID with you if you need a prescription medicine or to see a GP.

What if I have been ill and my medicine has run out too?

Tell us both things. Our guide to medication help for tourists explains what we can supply, depending on which country your doctor is in.

Related reading

• Medication help for tourists in Edinburgh: a guide for overseas visitors
• Can a pharmacy in Scotland accept a prescription from abroad?
• Lost luggage in Edinburgh? How to replace your medication
• Private prescription service at Forrest Pharmacy

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Forrest Pharmacy, 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP. Last reviewed: 7th November 2026.

This page gives general information and is not a substitute for an assessment by a pharmacist or doctor. If you are worried about your health, get advice. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources: NHS inform, Healthcare for overseas visitors, updated 30 October 2026; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Community Pharmacy Services, version 2.0, June 2026; NHS Lothian, information for visitors and tourists; all checked 2 November 2026.