{"id":1303,"date":"2024-11-01T12:10:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T12:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/?page_id=1303"},"modified":"2025-12-09T08:58:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T08:58:27","slug":"nhs-lothian-travel-clinics-emergencies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/nhs-lothian-travel-clinics-emergencies\/","title":{"rendered":"NHS Lothian Travel Clinics &#8211; Emergencies &#8211; Animal Bite"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile headingblockmargin gowide has-white-background-color has-background\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 42%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"134\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/travel-clinic-small.png\" alt=\"NHS Lothian Travel Clinics\" class=\"wp-image-508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/travel-clinic-small.png 350w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/travel-clinic-small-300x115.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading colourtext\" id=\"emergencies-animal-bite\">Emergencies &#8211; Animal Bite.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>In Lothian we aim to provide gold standard travel medicine services through our team of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Travel Medicine Consultants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On this page you will find advice and information on what to do in travel-related emergencies.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-1303_14334b-00 .kt-block-spacer{height:60px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-1303_14334b-00 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-1303_14334b-00\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"789\" height=\"945\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/things4.jpg\" alt=\"Planning a journey with a map\" class=\"wp-image-489 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/things4.jpg 789w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/things4-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/things4-768x920.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 789px) 100vw, 789px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull gowide has-light-accent-green-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-right:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\" style=\"padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;flex-basis:100%\">\n<p><sup><sub><strong>EMERGENCIES &#8211; ANIMAL BITE<\/strong><\/sub><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-e79a657b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"treatment-after-a-bite-or-scratch\">Treatment after a bite or scratch&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a high risk country or that might have rabies, you will need specialist medical treatment to stop you getting rabies. This is called post-exposure treatment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Post-exposure treatment involves:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>cleaning and disinfecting the wound immediately&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a course of the rabies vaccine \u2013 you&#8217;ll need to have 4 doses over a month if you have not been vaccinated against rabies before, or 2 doses a few days apart if you have&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>in some cases, a medicine called immunoglobulin is given into and around the wound \u2013 this provides immediate but short-term protection if there&#8217;s a significant chance you have been infected&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Treatment should be started quickly, ideally within a few hours of being bitten or scratched.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If this happens while you&#8217;re abroad, get local medical help immediately. Do not wait until you have returned to the UK.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have already returned to the UK without getting medical advice, it&#8217;s still a good idea to get help, even if it&#8217;s been several weeks since you were bitten or scratched.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Post-exposure treatment is nearly 100% effective if it&#8217;s started before any symptoms of rabies appear.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"treatment-in-lothian\">Treatment in Lothian&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note that post exposure Rabies treatment cannot be provided by the pre-travel team or clinics. It is administered by a specialist unit in the Western General Hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Normal process 9am &#8211; 7pm:<\/strong><br>To arrange treatment or continuation of vaccines given after a bite please ask your healthcare provider (GP, Minor Injuries, 111) to call the Western General Hospital and ask for the &#8220;ID registrar on call&#8221; who will arrange for you to be seen at the Regional Infectious Disease Unit. It is useful to have all the patients&#8217; personal details as well as dates of the bite and any treatment started when calling for a referral.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of emergency \/ immediate high risk rabies risk exposure overnight <strong>(7pm &#8211; 9am ONLY)<\/strong> please call NHS 111.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Health professionals can view the full referral process on RefHelp&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.nhslothian.scot\/refhelp\/guidelines\/infectiousdiseases\/animal-bites-and-rabies-risk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal Bites and Rabies Risk \u2013 RefHelp (nhslothian.scot)<\/a>&nbsp;or Green book (ch 27, p12&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/media\/647073aac38c550012342bea\/Rabies-green-book-chapter-27-May-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rabies green book chapter 27 (publishing.service.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Regional Infectious Disease Unit&nbsp;<\/strong><br>Western General Hospital&nbsp;<br>Crewe Road South<br>Edinburgh<br>EH4 2XU<br>Telephone: 0131 537 1000&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-fsb-flexible-spacer fsb-flexible-spacer\"><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--lg\" style=\"height:15px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--md\" style=\"height:15px\"><\/div><div class=\"fsb-flexible-spacer__device fsb-flexible-spacer__device--sm\" style=\"height:15px\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-image.kb-image1303_29d825-24:not(.kb-specificity-added):not(.kb-extra-specificity-added){margin-top:-35px;}.kb-image1303_29d825-24 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-image.kb-image1303_29d825-24:not(.kb-specificity-added):not(.kb-extra-specificity-added){margin-top:-35px;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-image.kb-image1303_29d825-24:not(.kb-specificity-added):not(.kb-extra-specificity-added){margin-top:-35px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image1303_29d825-24 absolutecenter\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"71\" height=\"72\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/arrowdown.png\" alt=\"Down Arrow\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-621\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section caringcover gowide alignfull alignfull getwid-section-content-full-width\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper getwid-padding-left-medium getwid-padding-right-medium getwid-margin-left-none getwid-margin-right-none\" style=\"min-height:350px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background has-background\" style=\"background-color:#954B6A;background-image:url('https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/cofee-scaled.jpg');background-position:center center;background-repeat:no-repeat\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-image-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-image\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/03\/cofee-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Travel Magazine with Cups of Coffee and a Mobile Phone\"\/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\" style=\"opacity:0.8;background-color:#000000;mix-blend-mode:\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color\" id=\"travellers-are-welcome-to-call-us-to-make-an-appointment\">Travellers are welcome to call us to make an appointment.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignwide is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:0131 537 2823\">Call: 0131 537 2823<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">As a busy service we appreciate being informed of any cancellation or expected late arrival. We may not be able to accommodate delayed arrivals within the same clinic\/day.<br>Please see &#8220;find a clinic&#8221; section for directions and journey planners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Please note: our voicemail service is for cancelation or amendment requests for <strong>existing bookings only<\/strong>. We will not respond to or progress new booking requests left on our voicemail system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section copyright gowide alignfull alignfull getwid-section-content-full-width\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper getwid-padding-left-small getwid-padding-right-small getwid-padding-tablet-top-none getwid-padding-tablet-bottom-none getwid-padding-tablet-left-small getwid-padding-tablet-right-small getwid-padding-mobile-top-none getwid-padding-mobile-bottom-none getwid-padding-mobile-left-small getwid-padding-mobile-right-small getwid-margin-left-none getwid-margin-right-none getwid-align-items-tablet-center getwid-align-items-mobile-center getwid-justify-content-tablet-center getwid-justify-content-mobile-center\" style=\"padding-top:15px;padding-bottom:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background has-background has-accent-colour-background-color\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\" style=\"opacity:0.8;background-color:#002A00;mix-blend-mode:\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-standard-white-color has-text-color\"><sup><sub>ORIGINAL GRAPHICS COURTESY OF <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freepik.com\/\">FREEPICK.COM<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/freeicons.io\/\">FREEICONS.IO<\/a><\/sub><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EMERGENCIES &ndash; ANIMAL BITE Treatment after a bite or scratch&nbsp; If you have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a high risk country or that might have rabies, you will need specialist medical treatment to stop you getting rabies. This is called post-exposure treatment.&nbsp; Post-exposure treatment involves:&nbsp; Treatment should be started quickly,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/wholewidth.php","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-1303","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NHS Lothian","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/author\/nhs-lothian\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"EMERGENCIES &ndash; ANIMAL BITE Treatment after a bite or scratch&nbsp; If you have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a high risk country or that might have rabies, you will need specialist medical treatment to stop you getting rabies. This is called post-exposure treatment.&nbsp; Post-exposure treatment involves:&nbsp; Treatment should be started quickly,","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1303"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1953,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1303\/revisions\/1953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/travelclinics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}