Vaccine - unpaid carers

[Florelei]

Is anyone else having significant problems with their GPs? I am registered as a carer with them and asked them yesterday if I was included within group 6.

They said they wouldn’t be putting anyone forward as a carer in group 6 without either evidence of carer’s allowance or a carer’s passport from the council. I can’t claim carer’s allowance as my earnings are just over the threshold even though I only work part time.

I rang the council who didn’t know what I was talking about.

Has anyone else experienced this and does anyone have any tips?

Many thanks in advance.

@Tiktokersmiracle - that’s terrible. Have you checked the complaints policy for the practice? That’s how I found the direct email of the manager of my GP.

@Tiktokersmiracle “computer says no”. I had exactly the same experience, they really think they’re something special! Only way is to go through 119 and hope you get lucky with the call handler (although I still may run into trouble tonight when I go).

@Zarabara123 - I went armed with a load of paperwork and they didn’t ask me a single question. I hope you have the same experience.

Contact have produced a letter as apparently they have government clear assurances that parent carers would be included and this would not happen.

I now have an appointment on Saturday via the GP surgery..... their website now says cohort 6 can book inc carers... this could vary region to region... personally pleased to be getting the jab in February. Good luck all X

I'm a carer for two children, this is registered with the gp, they had no appointments but said to book through 119 so I did and have my appointment Sunday, I don't get carers allowance as I earn just over the threshold, I am now very anxious that I will get turned away. I have proof of dla for them and some appointment letters with there diagnose. Has anyone gone to a mass vaccination centre and been ok?

Yep been tonight, just took my driving license to prove my name. She asked about my caring responsibilities I said Im an unpaid carer and its registered with my gp. All fine!

Are they asking at Sheffield Arena?

Thank you, I've decided not to cancel but take proof of my children's DLA awards and hope for the best

FINALLY!
I saw a local councillor link to an article about how our area is one of the worst postcodes for the Vaccine rollout in our county, he was asking why that was and what could he do to help if there was a reason other than people choosing not to have it
So I commented "may e it's because the main GP surgery here is knowingly blocking people from having the Vaccine and ignoring government/NHS protocol and schedule. That I had been branded a bully for making an enquiry, that in our case healthcare info was between 5 and 7 years out of date, that I was just at the end of my tether. That as a result, two vulnerable members of my household are at risk.

Well, they messaged me. Never thought they would. It also helped that another 4 people commented confirming they were in a similar situation, including a lady who has several illnesses including diabetes who has been told she is entitled early and has been told no, got her consultant to email, and then called and was given a bunch of similar bollocks as me for daring to involve someone else and contradicting the surgery.

So the councillor contacted them on everyone's behalf, said he would be asking the local healthcare trust to investigate the shoddy way they've dealt with people.

And I got called today by the surgery, who did NOT sound Happy. At all.

So tomorrow at 3.40pm, I shall be jabbed!
Bloody palavar and DP said watch us both get the worst side effects ever but I don't care!

As I said to the councillor, it should not have taken for him to call for them to do their sodding jobs.

So happy you got a result and annoyed that you had to fight

@Tiktokersmiracle, wow. Hopefully your surgery will be given a bit of a shake up? Really good the councillor actually acted on your info though, and that you’ve got your jab!

I also had jab offer texted to me today, completely unexpected as the practice manager more or less said I wasn’t entitled to be in group six as carer. Im feeling a little sick because of all the high feelings and adrenaline that’s gone into this, but that’s nothing. Just completely relieved to be offered. It’s so utterly crap that its such a fight, and that so many are getting nowhere.

@Tiktokersmiracle I hope you’re able to transfer somewhere else once this has all calmed down. Shocking the treatment you’ve received and the whole postcode lottery in general. And if you do get rough side effects, see it as the vaccine working well!

I’m a carer for my son. I booked online with my nhs number and had the vaccine yesterday. I do get carers allowance. I’ve got friends who don’t get carers allowance and have also had the vaccine.

I also got a letter through from my doctors this morning inviting me to book.

@Tiktokersmiracle** You have paved the way for other people not to have to beg and plead with your GP, well done!

@Emilyellen1995 I’ve just updated my other thread. I’m in the same position as you and got the vaccine today .

I did get asked for proof but DC DLA letter and proof of my address was fine .

Is there a template letter for Scotland?

@Tiktokersmiracle - I’m so glad to hear your news. However, this should never have happened.

@Tiktokersmiracle

FINALLY! I saw a local councillor link to an article about how our area is one of the worst postcodes for the Vaccine rollout in our county, he was asking why that was and what could he do to help if there was a reason other than people choosing not to have it So I commented "may e it's because the main GP surgery here is knowingly blocking people from having the Vaccine and ignoring government/NHS protocol and schedule. That I had been branded a bully for making an enquiry, that in our case healthcare info was between 5 and 7 years out of date, that I was just at the end of my tether. That as a result, two vulnerable members of my household are at risk.

Well, they messaged me. Never thought they would. It also helped that another 4 people commented confirming they were in a similar situation, including a lady who has several illnesses including diabetes who has been told she is entitled early and has been told no, got her consultant to email, and then called and was given a bunch of similar bollocks as me for daring to involve someone else and contradicting the surgery.

So the councillor contacted them on everyone's behalf, said he would be asking the local healthcare trust to investigate the shoddy way they've dealt with people.

And I got called today by the surgery, who did NOT sound Happy. At all.

So tomorrow at 3.40pm, I shall be jabbed!
Bloody palavar and DP said watch us both get the worst side effects ever but I don't care!

As I said to the councillor, it should not have taken for him to call for them to do their sodding jobs.

Bloody well done!! Good for you!

I called 119. Explained predicament. Group 6, unpaid carer, no CA, D.C. CEV, high rate DLA etc etc.
The lady could not have been more helpful. But unfortunately said as they couldn't book in as no CA it has to be administered via GP and we can't book via website or 119. GP refusing so now at an impasse.

if you look through a few threads people are saying aslong as you are marked as a carer by your gp you can book. Many people on different sites have had it that don't receive carers. It just all seems a bit pot luck depending on who you talk to

I wouldn't have usually had a proper, full on rant, especially on Facebook, but you know what, I saw it posted, and I had enough. I just thought, there were proper twits on the comments from the councillors thread being bloody racist and blaming all sorts for the jabs not being as high uptake here as elsewhere. And I just said, "in my experience, it's the shoddy GP surgery".
I was surprised how many others spoke up, most in a similar position to me, unpaid carer bar the lady I mentioned.
And there have been more comments this afternoon too.

I really hope that the local trust does get involved. When we joined this surgery, years back, it was excellent. It's been getting consistently worse for about two, nearly 3, years.

I am going to switch asap though.

But yes, side effects, ah well. I've got paracetamol and the DCs have been told to they can order a take away if we feel really tough on Sunday so it's win win!

Just keep at it. Try your local councillors if you have to, it's an election year for ward councils so they are probably looking for opportunities to win people over!

Hi, I'm still not able to book through the online system. I called 119 and they advised to go back to my gp and ask but when I called they have given me access to my medical records online and I've definitely been coded as a carer as I can see where they've done it when I called last week! Does anyone know what I should do?

Looks like they've coded me 'coded entry Carer (Ub1ju)'as a formal carer? which surely still means I should be eligible to book? Or is it because I'm selecting not an eligible health care worker??

Our gp say they have no more vaccine for two weeks.

They’re on CV, not on unpaid carers yet so no hope of vaccine for at least two weeks.