To think that DP should be able to get a hepatitis B vaccine somewhere?

[caddywally]

DP works somewhere that often has a fair few homeless people hanging around, and as some of these people have drug problems, it's not uncommon to see needles etc. left lying around. Last night he stepped on a bloody needle and it went through his shoe and into his foot. In case there was a chance he could've contracted a disease (though hopefully this is unlikely) he went straight to A&E.

He spent about 5 hours in A&E and eventually the doctor took some blood and advised him to get a hepatitis B vaccine, though advised him that he'd have to get it done at the GP surgery as soon as possible as A&E didn't have any hep b vaccines available. He called the GP this morning and they told him to go back to A&E. He called A&E and explained the situation and they said that they were unable to order any in, but the GP would be able to. He went to the GP this afternoon and showed the note from the doctor advising that the GP vaccinates him, but they said they can't order in the vaccine and told him to go back to A&E.

Can anyone who works in healthcare (or anyone else!) shed some light on this? Is this normal? I know it's unlikely that he was infected, but if a few months down the line it turns out he is infected because nobody could decide who should give him the vaccine, I'll be very upset.

Can he get it done at a travel clinic and claim it back through work?

There is a real shortage of Hep b vaccines presently so maybe that's the problem?

Travel Vaccine Centre

Travel clinic.

I work in homelessness and I got mine at the street clinic for homeless people.

GP should be able to get it in. If they really won't, try your local GUM clinic

It's due to the shortage but appreciate the frustration.

I got DS done at Boots. Can use boots points, it's private so you choose, no referral etc, cost about £150 per injection (2 injections). Final injection completed in April.

lruka That's a good suggestion - thanks very much. I'm not sure if work would claim it back but it might be worth going anyway, if they have the vaccines available. The GP receptionist said there was a "worldwide shortage" but some places must have them.

I've just had a course of 3 injections they chat £35 each from the gp

This was a month ago

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2557.aspx?CategoryID=72

If your DH has been told he needs a hep B vaccine don't be fobbed off. There's a shortage, but there are options available.

Ignore me. I meant Men B.

sorry.

Yes he needs it - it's a course that takes months to build immunity and you need an antibody titration to ensure it's been successful - id try a travel clinic too or see if the company he works for has an occupational health link as they may be able to help

Practice nurse here. We have been advised from on high that we are unable to order it in indefinitely due to shortage. If people present like your DH with that sort of situation unfortunately it is A&E's responsibility, not that of general practice. We can't order it in at the moment. Speak to PALS. Or try a private travel clinic although (if they have it) you would have to pay. Is his tetanus up to date??

flumpybear He's dealt with occupational health before for something completely unrelated, so that might be a good idea. He's going to chat to his boss tomorrow and see if they can put him in contact with occupational health.

Hi!
Is there a sexual health clinic near you? I will try that as they normally immunise for Hep B if you are consider to be at risk.

CPtart A&E seem to think that they can't order it but the GP surgery can, and the GP surgery think they can't order it but A&E can! Maybe some wires have been crossed somewhere. He hasn't ever had a tetanus jab, but the doctor didn't mention tetanus to him in A&E. PALS might be a good idea, too.

It will be easier for the GP surgery to order the Hep B immunisation. It is also recomnended a jab for tetanus.

It's actually neither his GPs nor A&Es responsibility.

It's his work's responsibility who should arrange the vaccine through their occupational health department. If they don't have an occupational health department, then they should pay for him to see a private occupational health physician and arrange it through them.

If he's self employed then he would have to pay for it himself either through a private travel clinic or through a private occupational health service.

Either way, this is the bottom line: If your job places you at risk of hepatitis B infection, it is your employer's responsibility to arrange vaccination for you, rather than your GP. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/hepatitis-b-vaccine.aspx

Mimis55A I think there is a sexual health clinic here so that might be another option. Thanks for your help! The GP surgery seemed to be completely unwilling to even consider ordering the vaccine (I realise they've probably been told to do this and it's not just the receptionist being mean) so I think we'll have to go down another route.

By the way the vaccine shortage has nothing to do with whose responsibility it is. Even if there was no shortage it is still NOT the GPs responsibility to arrange it.

Nestofvipers It's public sector so I'd have hoped they'd be pretty clued up about this stuff, but he wasn't offered any vaccinations when he started the job. I won't say exactly what he does, but it's not an occupation that should put him at risk from stuff like this, so maybe that's why. People are trespassing, shooting up and leaving needles around, but the police are under-resourced so won't sort it out and my DP and his colleagues have no authority to do anything about it.

The GP surgery seemed to be completely unwilling to even consider ordering the vaccine
That's because vaccinating people against hep B for occupational risk is not NHS GP work. The advice they've given you is entirely correct.

Work related risk means employer must order and administer.
Holiday related risk means gp or travel clinic can order and administer for a fee and it must be booked well in advance.
This has always been the case in my experience over the last 20 years.