Australians pack a lot of worry about their health when heading off on holiday

Health is a big concern for Australians travelling domestically, with 57% worried about how they will manage their medication, injury and chronic or new illnesses, according to research from Healthdirect Australia. When asked what type of injury or illness might cause a health concern over the Christmas holiday, too much sun (29%) and food (21%) topped the list.

healthdirect is a free telehealth service offered via an app (Opens in new tab), website (Opens in new tab) and helpline (Opens in new tab) on behalf of the governments of Australia. Online self-help tools, a symptom checker (Opens in new tab) and service finder (Opens in new tab), and a helpline staffed by registered nurses, help people know what to do about their symptoms and how to find the right care no matter where in Australia they are.

“We all want our holidays to be as stress-free as possible but with over half of us worried how we will manage our health on holiday — even higher for young families — there’s peace of mind in knowing where to turn for quick and reliable health information,” says Karen Borg, CEO of Healthdirect Australia.

Australians forgetful when packing for holidays

21% of Australians have forgotten their medication or prescription when packing for a domestic trip. 25-34 year-olds are even more forgetful of essential holiday items and are most likely to leave home without their headphones (40%), glasses/sunglasses (34%) or medication (34%).

“Travelling without your medication or prescription can range from just an inconvenience to posing a real health concern during your holiday,” says Ms Borg.

“The healthdirect app has information for almost every pharmacy and general practice in Australia, so you can quickly find one that’s open nearby. When time is of the essence, having the right information at your fingertips can make a real difference,” she says.

Knowing where health services are is important on holiday

When researching ideal holiday destinations, over a quarter (28%) of Australians consider their healthcare needs and factor the availability of local health services into their final decision.

Again, 25-34-year-olds are the most concerned, with 39% thinking about their health needs ahead of time and choosing to holiday near a hospital, medical centre, GP and/or pharmacy. This is a good call considering they are also the most concerned about heat and sun related illness or injury (30%), food-related illness (28%) and water-related injury (8%).

For both forward-planners and those more likely to wing it, Ms Borg recommends downloading the healthdirect app before heading off on holiday.

“Even if you haven’t considered the likelihood of ill-health on your holiday, it’s good to be prepared. You can either call the free healthdirect helpline or use the self-guided symptom checker on the healthdirect app. You’ll go through a series of questions and receive advice on what medical help is recommended. In some instances, you may not need to see a GP or go to the emergency department and can manage the symptoms yourself.

“If you are directed to seek medical attention when using the app, you’ll be linked directly to a service finder — the most comprehensive database of healthcare services in Australia — so you can easily find the nearest open healthcare provider.

“Whether you’re headed for the bush, the beach or the city, download the healthdirect app to take the stress out of managing your health these holidays,” says Ms Borg.