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.

@mummytoCSJH, can you ask your GP when you will get the letter as you are in group 6, and if no luck there, try 119 again. The person I spoke to said I should definitely be included in group 6 as a carer even though I am not getting carers allowance due to salary being higher than allowed to receive it. She booked me in and I have seen a few other people have been able to do it this way as well.

@Staffy1
I am in this position and tried 119 but was refused because I didnt get CA

@vickibee, it's seems to be pot luck depending on where you live, what your GP surgery is like, which individual you get to speak to and it shouldn't be this way. Carers are supposed to be included in group 6. It just seems ridiculous to exclude people based on them earning rather than receiving an allowance. I don't know why they didn't use a DLA list instead. We must be recorded somewhere on that list as they write to us regarding the person we care for.

@Staffy1 yes I have proof of my child’s dla

They would soon be complaining if there was no one to care for the disabled persons because they got Covid. I know someone age 36 who got it with no underlying problems or caring responsibility

@vickibee, try 119 again, you may get a different person who thinks differently. They must be able to book if they have done it for a few of us in the same situation. But make sure you are registered as a carer with your GP. Mind you, as they were unable to book at the bigger hospital sites, there is a longer wait for the appointment. You might find you get an appointment quicker by age group through the nhs booking site at this rate, as they are already on to the next group and going quite quickly.

[quote vickibee]@Staffy1
I am in this position and tried 119 but was refused because I didnt get CA[/quote]
Same here

Haven't read all of the threas, but if you access the NHS website for vaccinations and put your name dob etc in & you are in receipt of carers allowance it should give you a choice of 2 places near to book.

Sorry misread. Keep phoning the 119 they have to add you as a carer.

I'm definitely flagged as a carer with my
GP surgery but I don't receive CA due to my income. It doesn't let me book a vaccine appointment online. I don't know whether to try 119, as I'm not sure whether my area are still the CV group at the moment. (Aside from the people I know who have had their vaccine but have no idea why as they aren't in the correct age brackets and have no health conditions!)

Receiving carers allowance shouldn't have been a factor IMO, because then surely they're only vaccinating carers on lower incomes? No offence intended to anyone who does qualify for CA of course, my income is only slightly over the limit. I can see why that was an easier way of identifying people, but it's not a fair way.

119 have told me just now there has been an update to the online system and carers will NOT be able to book online, they will receive a local invitation from their GP and just to wait for that...

I just don’t understand how the expect to get through group 6 if they do not get access to the larger hubs. I can understand how using CA they could easily identify and allow the booking. The only thing I can put this down to is if the allow the codes to be picked up they know GP surgeries will be inundated with people who do not have the code they thought they had.

Just had mine. They found my booking and name but it wouldn't let them in the system to accept it. Had to show bank statement showing CA going in.

@rosie39forever

I'm having a problem too, I'm full time carer for my dd who has high rate PIP for care and mobility, I'm also in receipt of carers allowance. I'm registered as a carer at the practice and have a free flu vaccine and carers health check every year and still they are adamant that I'm group 9 not 6. My dd is 17 and has severe and pervasive learning disabilities and they won't book her in either it's so unfair when my friends 27 year old healthy student dd has been invited to get her today.

Have you tried booking through the NHS app? You just need to tick to say you are a carer then take proof to the appointment.

@awfeebs, how was yours booked? Was it by the website or 119 or had you received a letter?

@rosie39forever
Sorry, just checked and it has changed!

Don't try to change an appointment. The system cannot do it. You have to cancel and then gamble there being another appointment free

@Frozenintime

Don't try to change an appointment. The system cannot do it. You have to cancel and then gamble there being another appointment free

Thanks for letting us know.

@MummytoCSJH

119 have told me just now there has been an update to the online system and carers will NOT be able to book online, they will receive a local invitation from their GP and just to wait for that...

This is what they told me too. Trouble is the GP won't book either

So much for being in group 6 then as group 7 can now book appointments online ahead of all the group 6 still having to wait for the invitation from the GP.

@Staffy1 through NHS website. I received the letter a couple of days later inviting me to book.

Luckily had my banking app on my phone to show proof of CA going in.

@paradyning It's very odd that there hasnt been something proper put in place for us. I already mentioned this but I don't receive CA either so I assume would be turned away if I ever did manage to book

I understand if they are triaging within group 6, especially as now adults with LD - quite rightly and about time - are being included within group 6, but they need to up the communication!

[quote AwFeebs]@Staffy1 through NHS website. I received the letter a couple of days later inviting me to book.

Luckily had my banking app on my phone to show proof of CA going in.[/quote]
If you had a letter a few days later I don't know why they needed any proof. What a mess of a system.

@Boulshired

I just don’t understand how the expect to get through group 6 if they do not get access to the larger hubs. I can understand how using CA they could easily identify and allow the booking. The only thing I can put this down to is if the allow the codes to be picked up they know GP surgeries will be inundated with people who do not have the code they thought they had.

At the end of January, GPs abs pharmacies were doing three quarters of all vaccinations. There is much much more capacity there than in the vaccination centres. It’s just that the vaccination centres look big, but the GP/pharmacy sites are far more numerous (over 1,200 of them).

I’ve just had mine this afternoon, as an unpaid carer for my DC, who has only recently been diagnosed, so I haven’t got round to applying for the DLA for them yet.
My GP knows DC has been diagnosed obviously so happily coded me as an unpaid carer. I thought I wouldn’t get it though in Group 6, after the guidance to GP’s saying the DC had to be CV as my DC isn’t. I was texted on Wednesday to invite me to book an app for today. I’m extremely grateful and relieved, partly because I have a health condition myself that would probably mean Covid would cause my condition to flare up. DC wouldn’t cope if I was too unwell to care for them for any more than a day or two.
I hope you all get yours very soon!