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Covid

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Original poster

Nearest vaccine 30miles away

20 replies

Sparklfairy · 17/02/2021 12:52

A friend has just got his letter inviting him for the vaccine. When he went online to book, the nearest centre is over 30 miles away!

Google shows they are doing vaccines at a little hospital a mile or two away, but it doesn't come up. His surgery is also at the end of his road but they clearly say on their website not to contact them about vaccines.

Has this happened to anyone else? I'm not due mine for ages but I would really struggle to get to the centre listed. Probably two trains and a taxi/bus as I don't drive. He does but he works long hours and it's a bitch of a drive!

Just surprised I guess. He isnt rural (lives in a town), and it just feels prohibitive and would put a lot of people off having it.

OP posts:

LIZS · 17/02/2021 12:55

Is the letter a nhs one or from ccg/gp? You can wait for appointments at a more local centre via gp letter or call the number on the nhs letter and be offered alternatives.

LIZS · 17/02/2021 12:59

And there is a certain logic in directing the majority to mass centres in the first instance as the younger age groups are more likely to be mobile than the vulnerable and older cohorts.

WineInTheWillows · 17/02/2021 13:00

From what I understand, you can either travel to a big centre and get it quickly or wait until your GP has a slot for you and accept it'll take a bit longer.

User7458 · 17/02/2021 13:04

Unless you are absolutely desperate to get it this week I would just wait, they are very keen for everyone to have the vaccine so will not stand in the way of people having it locally, that's what I would do anyway. I am not so desperate for the vaccine that I would travel miles for it so would just bide my time but many would travel as they want it as quick as possible.

Springersrock · 17/02/2021 13:17

We’ve had issues with this down here. I’m on the Isle of Wight and people kept being offered mainland sites despite us having 2 centres here.

The local NHS say to keep trying at different times as the local ones do come available.

We had the same issues with testing as well - you just have to keep trying

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 17/02/2021 13:18

This falls into the invitation not summons category, makes sense to invite as many as possible, if they can't make it they wait for a closer one but everyone who is able to travel gets down asap.

Im not due to be invited yet so don't know the wording of the messages, does it imply that you only get one chance, that wouldn't be good.

Original poster

Sparklfairy · 17/02/2021 13:22

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair

This falls into the invitation not summons category, makes sense to invite as many as possible, if they can't make it they wait for a closer one but everyone who is able to travel gets down asap.

Im not due to be invited yet so don't know the wording of the messages, does it imply that you only get one chance, that wouldn't be good.

That makes sense. I think he was a bit worried that if he didn't book online then he might miss his chance or get noted down as not wanting it.

Thanks @Springersrock I'll tell him to keep trying. Also suggest calling as another PP suggested.

OP posts:

Parkandride · 17/02/2021 13:30

My retired inlaws did a 30 mile drive for theirs this week, from small town to large city hub. Nothing would keep me away! That's my normal commute its not an insane distance, though totally appreciate if you don't drive it makes it harder - I understand why you'd prefer to wait for something more local if you can't drive or if you have mobility problems etc

MinnieMD · 17/02/2021 13:56

We’ve had this too and called 119 as I initially thought it was an issue with the site, they advised to either book and travel or just wait and keep trying, appointments are released every day.
It seems many people are shocked that they are not be able to have appointments where or when they want, not saying this is the case for your friend of course.

Original poster

Sparklfairy · 17/02/2021 14:06

@MinnieMD

We’ve had this too and called 119 as I initially thought it was an issue with the site, they advised to either book and travel or just wait and keep trying, appointments are released every day. It seems many people are shocked that they are not be able to have appointments where or when they want, not saying this is the case for your friend of course.

I'm definitely guilty of assuming that, because of seeing in the local news just how many places were giving the vaccine and the sheer speed that it's rolling out, I thought it would be a case of a choice of 2 or 3 venues within like a 10 mile radius

I myself live in the main city in the county, so I'm surprised if there was only one venue available online within 30 miles it would be here, rather than tucked away in the furthest corner of the county fully admit that's the complacency that comes with city living though

OP posts:

murbblurb · 17/02/2021 14:14

Wait for the gp. This is absolutely standard in not London where sticking a pin in a map doesn't account for lack of transport or smaller roads. In our area the problem was so bad that the council and hospitals have issued statements on the subject.

MountainDweller · 17/02/2021 16:47

My mum (76 with heart problems) was offered an appointment at one of the countries' biggest centres 20 miles away. She's not really confident driving that far and public transport would be complicated. She was advised that she could wait for her GP to call to offer an appointment at her surgery (4 miles away) - she decided to wait and the GP called a couple of days later. I guess they are encouraging people to go to the bigger centres first, but they must realise that not everyone can get to them. Personally I'd rather wait a bit longer to avoid a long journey, but I have mobility issues (and apparently in my country, there's no chance for me before 2022 anyway).

AnneWeber · 17/02/2021 20:43

Just checking I've understood. If you're not able to get to a far away place you keep checking to see if a nearer one comes up and if after a certain time you've not booked, the system will flag this to your GP and they'll invite you to a nearer place. Is that correct?

LIZS · 17/02/2021 20:50

@AnneWeber

I believe so, but it seems the letters/texts are often within days so not much delay by waiting.

AnneWeber · 17/02/2021 20:54

Thank you

thatgingergirl · 17/02/2021 20:56

I got my NHS letter on Monday. Quite clearly said I could book online or wait to hear from my local services. Got a text from my GP on Tuesday.

PiggyPlumPie · 17/02/2021 20:58

Our GP is not vaccinating anyone (Scotland).

Our nearest vaccination centre is 15 miles away.

Our nearest testing centre is more than 30 miles away.

The joys of rural living!

LIZS · 17/02/2021 21:09

In our area surgeries have been grouped together so there are several locations each dealing with patients from one group. There are also some 2 larger hubs.

EachBleachBlairTrump · 17/02/2021 21:14

My DF went online this week and was offered two sites in a different county, called his gp and was offered one this week five miles from his house

ThePug · 17/02/2021 21:34

I'm Group 6 which is being invited by GP rather than central nhs - had a text today inviting me to book (whooop!) and was expecting to be sent to the mass vaccination site that is 1 mile from my house, but instead only option I was given was one the other side of the city. I went to great lengths trying to change it but turns out the one near me is only doing the NHS invites, not GP ones, so no Group 6 patients It was a different booking link (starting accurx.thirdparty.nhs.uk) rather than the National booking site.

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