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02/06/2005: "TV's Palin backs European sick note"

TV traveller Michael Palin is urging the public to help avoid holiday health nightmares by filling in a simple form.

The Department of Health has launched a scheme make sure the public knows about the benefits of getting an E111 certificate before heading to Europe this summer.

The form, available online or at post offices, entitles Britons to reduced or sometimes free medical treatment if they fall ill or have an accident in 28 European countries.

Travellers are still advised to take out travel insurance because E111 does not cover some factors, such as repatriation to the UK in the event of serious illness.

But travel insurance alone might not be enough to cover all medical care, and some policies are not valid without an E111 form.

Palin, who has trekked the Sahara desert, been around the world in 80 days and travelled pole-to-pole, said: "No-one wants to get sick on holiday.

"But if you do you'll be glad you packed your ticket to saving money, hassle and time if you need medical treatment."

The E111 form also covers people for treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, for maternity care and illnesses they had before going away.

The campaign has been launched now because any forms issued before August 19, 2004 are no longer valid.

From September the E111 form is being turned into a more handy-sized card, known as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

(this article was taken from Yahoo Independant Entertainment News)

The E111 is your basic safeguard when travelling anywhere for holiday, the government recommends always purchasing travel insurance to cover you for every eventuality that the E111 can't (and it doesn't stretch much past the basic emergency). To get an instant quote for travel insurance for your holiday, go here.