Passport

Please check you have a valid British passport which will last for the journey in and out. It is normal to ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months or more when you return to the UK. If you need further advice on UK passports, see the passport office website.

EHIC

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge. Remember to check your EHIC is still valid before you travel. Applying for the card is free and it's valid for up to five years.
Your EHIC will allow you access to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the country you are visiting. However, many countries expect the patient to pay towards their treatment, and even with an EHIC, you might be expected to do the same. You may be able to seek reimbursement for this cost when you are back in the UK if you are not able to do so in the other country.
The EHIC is NOT an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property. For these reasons and others, it is important to have both an EHIC and a valid private travel insurance policy. Some insurers now insist you hold an EHIC and many will waive the excess if you have one. You can find information on this at the nhs website, phone 0845 605 0707 or get a form from the Post Office.