to think that my son should have access to his pre-school boosters?

[oneofthosedays]

I'm a bit annoyed that I can't get DS (3.5y) in for his pre-school boosters. We registered with a new GP surgery before xmas (due to move) and tried to arrange an appt with then then but they said they didn't arrange the appts it was done from a central point and was given a phone number to chase up. When I finally got thru to someone (after being passed round several depts) they said they still had all old address and GP details so changed all that with them and they said an appt would come out automatically in the post.

Well it arrived yesterday but is for a morning clinic and I work every morning (and DH is full time), both used all annual leave to cover school holidays and it would have been after the deadline for submitting annual leave request at work anyway (have to give 2 weeks notice) and all holiday slots are full so it would be declined anyhow.

So I rang the GP surgery as it says on the letter if you are not able to make the appt, only to be told that there is only an immunisatin clinic 1 morning a week at this surgery and imms could not be booked in at any other time. She said I could cancel it and wait for another appt slip but it would be for this same morning clinic again. I explained that I work in the mornings but can do any afternoon and is it not possible to arrange something for an afternoon. The reply was a curt 'no'. I asked her if there was anything else I can do or will DS not be able to have the booster, she said he wouldn't be able to unless I come to this one clinic.

How frustrating?! I then asked for the contact no for PALS which she said she didn't have. And that was that, I'm a bit upset and really not sure what to do now? Can they seriously not vaccinate DS because I can't bend over backwards for them?

[risingstar]

i think it is unreasonalbe of them to say that it is impossible to do it at any other time.

our surgery, after i didnt book dd3 in for pre school immunisations, started chasing me. i told them that i had wednesdays off (clinics only on tuesdays and thursdays) and they booked me in for a wednesday.

i dont think you are being unreasonable at all.

[oneofthosedays]

Thanks for all the replies, I have stressed to the surgery that I don't care where DS has his imms (another clinic etc) and I am available every day from 12.30pm onwards but simply cannot do mornings. The practice nurse called me after ok-ing it with the Practice manager and said she can do DS' imms in an afternoon. I have at no point got shirty with them and did explain that I am grateful that they have been able to accommodate DS outside their normal clinic times.

For PP's who have mentioned that PALS is an overreaction, I hadn't contacted them but wanted to keep all options open - as far a I know PALS is a liaison service not some big bad vehicle for a complaint!! I'm glad I've been able to sort it between the child health section and the surgery.

At my previous surgery the practice nurses that did the imms always stressed to me (and presumably others) that if the imms clinic (which usually runs alongside baby clinic) was at an inconvenient time then it was no problem to arrange something direct with them and were really nice about it, I was mistaken thinking that this surgery would be the same.

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Same here, our GP surgery only does imms at the baby clinic on Tuesdays. I work Tuesdays and taking time off isn't always possible.

It's a large surgery so it's annoying they don't offer any flexibility. Thanks to everyone who suggested the PCT or PALS, I'll certainly call next time.