Planning Health

My confidence in the NHS has been knocked this morning. In an effort to be responsible and get the odd jab to prevent serious illness, I have completed the local medical centre travel clinic form. Duly sent and duly received back.

as you can see from the picture of the form, the nurse who reviewed my travel plans had either; 

Recently had a stroke 

Is 5 and yet to master basic writing skills

Was drunk when completing the form

Whatever the case, I am putting myself in the care of someone whose unsteady hand will soon be stabbing me with giant needles, filled with god knows what. I'm tempted to let Mother Nature care for me. It seems like the least dangerous option. 

More edits on health care and insurance (yet to do anything on that) to come. 

Update 30/9 - ok, so had my jabs today. The nice lady at the clinic needed a little help on where Central Asia was, then where Central America was, then what countries were in both. It was about the standard of education on the matter that I was expecting to be honest. Once we'd got past basic geography, we were down to the serious business of needles. Turns out I have enough Rabies juice in me to last a while and I just needed a top up on Hep A & B. One of them cost me £36 but I cant remember which. The other was free. Don't know why. Malaria requires pills (I'd forgotten that), so I do need to take medication after all. Malerone (sp?) in my case. I took that last year with no side effects, so best to repeat. Not cheap though. I'm not sure it will really matter. I'm bound to forget to take them after the first couple of days anyway. At least I'm all properly tanked up in all other respects. 

Update 20/9 - travel insurance all sorted. Took the easy option and hit the first Google result returned. The quote for 3 months (to include my follow-up trip to Central America) came in at £72. That's the 'Backpacker Bronze' package. Once all the bits and bobs got added e.g. Additional valuables cover, it topped out at £120. God knows what 'Backpacker Gold' would have come in at! 

I'm sure someone will tell me I paid twice the going rate. Hey ho. I'm not going to spend my whole weekend researching insurance quotes. Life's too short. 

Update 20/9 - can't possibly need more than this can I?