"Anti malaria prescription"

i planned to go on holiday for 3 weeks in september 19th 2008, as such has to make appiontment to see my GP AND NURSE on 10/09/08 for travel advise. i made both appiontment to enable me collect a prescription for anti- malaria which i need to commence 2 weeks before the trip .some nurses are train to give full advise, injection and anti-malaria if required .but to be on the save side i have to book to see the dr in case i could not get it from the nurse.after consultation with the nurse i requested for anti-malaria , she told me they do not give prescription for that . but i was shocked when the dr refused and ask me to see the pharmacist . i went next door to the parmacy shop.

i was informed i could not be able to purchase it without a prescription, i went back to inform the gp he refused to give me one neither was i advised on what to do i was frustrated and had to take the risk of travelling without full protection.10 days on getting to my destination , i fell ill it was terrifying i was vomiting, running temperature , very weak and had no appetite. i was treated first as outpatient but few days later i was taken in and for 18 days i felt very ill. i would not want anybody to go through this especially children and young adults.the 3 weeks holiday lasted for 6 weeks , i cancelled my flight, my family here were distressed, my job was on the line. i kept contact with my employers, and my family also kept contact with them.i came back 28/10/08.

i phone my gp surgery and also write them to say this is what happened. the manager replied to say they have contacted the pharmacist at pct in hull who told them that they are not oblaged to give me one there was no concern no appologies, i contacted pal who also said they could not be able to help because the prescription was to come as aprivate prescription . i was given gmc address and number to contact them.

i was baffled that the pct at local level could not help because there was no policy or guidline and no uniformity in practice as regards this.i refused to brush it under the carpet as it will affect a lot of people including myself again.if one gp can give proper advise and care why won't another.

there are lot of people that travel to see families and friends in malarious region and in some pcts anti-malaria is given as nhs prescription example southwark primary care trust. but others should be able to get it uniforminly as a private prescription even though it is very expensive to purchase. at the same time it is better than losing a life. and cheaper than treatment of plasmodiasis under the nhs.i wish to see a change a policy or guidline to this effect

it made my travel insurance non and void as they wanted to know whether i travelled with full protection