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Original poster

No vaccine yet, have to go to work - scared

127 replies

RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 11:18

Hi
I am group 6 due to 5 separate factors of all are which are group 6 alone. I shielded 2020 until Aug 1st after official letter telling me to. A Gp has manually removed me from shielding which is did not know about so no vaccine for me yet and was not considered in the recent who shall we add to Shielding list due to manual removal.
Receptionist will not let me speak to a Gp, saying no mistake made and to wait my turn. I have a feeling I will be bottom of group 6 jab list now!

I have to go to work on Mon with no PPE, and no vaccination, other colleagues with one condition have had their vaccination due to postcode lottery. I was hoping for a jab before school started on 22nd. I have to be in school every day with teenagers due to nature of my job now I am not on SPL.

Am so scared.
I have been very ill in hospital with in HDU twice and resus once in last few years with normal illnesses that seem to have affected me badly due to my conditions.

Cannot get signed off work as no access to anyone medical as they are too busy to see people due to vaccine roll out. No big hubs here, so done by groups of Gp’s it appears.

Feel sick as 22nd approaches. School just are a business - more people that can be in less money used covering me. And this is without all schools opening up on 8th March.

OP posts:
bungobango · 21/02/2021 12:43

I am frustrated with gp receptionist too. I have schitzoaffective but according to the receptionist mental health conditions are not in group 6. I am calling them tomorrow again.

Good luck!

sashagabadon · 21/02/2021 12:45

Aren’t group 6 being done from now? So likely only a couple of weeks until you get called. You could also try the nhs link soon ish with your NI number to bypass your go surgery and go to a larger hub instead?

DavidsSchitt · 21/02/2021 12:46

@RhubarbCrumbling book a vaccine using the nhs booking system. You were shielded so that system is for you despite the GP error. You are group 4

Of course, you'll also need to ring and get an appointment to rectify your medical records

RedcurrantPuff · 21/02/2021 12:46

Say you need to isolate. That will buy you 10 days to try and get signed off. Hopefully you’ll get a vaccine soon and feel a bit less scared x

DavidsSchitt · 21/02/2021 12:46

@sashagabadon that won't magically fix her medical records will it?

sashagabadon · 21/02/2021 12:47

I’d ignore those saying queue jumping. Doesn’t sound like you are at all to me. Hope you get it soon

Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 12:48

@DavidsSchitt thanks for your kind words and understanding.

Sadly, I have seen little of that in recent months.

I am so scared about work tomorrow, but the advantage is my BMI is going down as feel so sick with nerves I cannot eat. Silver lining at least!! My BMI was ok until first lockdown which coincided with such a bad chest infection that I had lab diagnosed two bacteria and asperilligosis ( not sure of spelling!) so took 4 months to be able to do more than a gentle walk. Due to Dr’s being far too busy and worried they would catch something nobody saw me, so had to send lab samples off and treat myself with own stash of antibiotics I am prescribed to keep at home. I am getting a physical check up for that mid March at the hospital as still cannot climb stairs without being breathless - but it is ok @sansou I did not ring to hassle about my medical condition, I have waited more than 9 months for an appointment. Teaching upstairs, with no lifts allowed to be used, means I have to stop and use inhalers and wait til get breath back each morning. Not drinking all day means I do not need a wee so do not have to tackle said stairs again!!! But nope, I have not pushed my way up NHS queues!!!

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 21/02/2021 12:48

Agree with a pp that you need to complain to the practice and you need to keep escalating the issue until you get a satisfactory response.

I used to be a GPs receptionist (and I was a nice one!) and complaints are the way to get the issue out of the hands of the annoying receptionist and to the practice manager and the GPs.

You can then escalate I believe to the CCG (or whatever it's called now).

Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 12:55

@DavidsSchitt I tried that but it says no access allowed. Rang 119, spoke to kind, helpful person who said they are not allowed to book me a vaccine as not coded CEV/SPL and the only advice was to speak to a Gp. I did tell them our issues with this, but apart from making “understanding” noises about how busy Gp’s were could do no more.

Irrelevant of having a vaccine ( know 2 colleagues with asthma had it in group 6) I will still have to be in school 5 days a week as not shielding. So even if got a jab soon, it takes 3 weeks for it to be up to a certain percentage of protection for AZ I gather. So 3 weeks after jab, then no 60-70% protection until a week after the second jab which will be in the summer term now, likely to be final half-term,

And I am scared. I have been in HDU fighting for my breath, being nursed 1:1 due to a normal chest infection.

OP posts:
Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 12:56

Thanks @AnneElliott, yes we emailed but apparently it could not be seen on the system. So had to email again as they would not allow a conversation with practice manager.

OP posts:
DavidsSchitt · 21/02/2021 12:57

@RhubarbCrumbling it's terrible that you've been left to deal with that.

Please book using the nhs link for a vaccine as it sounds like you'll be waiting a while to get the other things rectified.

@sansou has the attitude many GP receptionists appear to have. Before they answer the phone they've dismissed the patient and decided that they are time wasters.

Skyla2005 · 21/02/2021 12:58

Get signed off work due to anxiety you've had the vaccine

DavidsSchitt · 21/02/2021 12:59

Sorry, cross post.

I would get an urgent appointment on Monday. Don't tell the receptionist what the issue is.

Skyla2005 · 21/02/2021 13:01

Until

RosesAndHellebores · 21/02/2021 13:03

Write a polite letter setting out what you have written here, requesting a conversation outside your working hours with a senior partner at the practice because you were removed from shielding list and nobody has explained why, you feel at risk and would like your place in the vacc order clarified. Send it recorded delivery.

Good luck!

Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 13:06

Recorded delivery is a good idea - thanks. Have written everything in a polite email twice.

OP posts:
Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 13:10

@DavidsSchitt I cannot book using nhs link as it says I am not eligible. Have tried, daily.

@Skyla2005 sadly cannot get signed off unless have a medical person to do that.

I am not going to lie and say have to isolate as my school may ask for evidence. Nor do I wish to lie. Getting a test is no use as results back the next day! Plus we have to do tests twice a week if in school.

OP posts:
Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 13:11

Maybe I am not at risk. Maybe my conditions are not for SPL - but they were last year, and someone has manually removed me. What do they think has changed about my health? No idea as seen no medical person since early March 2020!!

OP posts:
CoffeeRunner · 21/02/2021 13:16

Are you seriously saying that you’ve phoned your GP & have said that you need to speak to a Dr about getting a sick note for work & they have refused you an appointment? It wasn’t just a case of no appointments left for that day so telling you to call back in the morning? At our surgery everything is released at 8am.

I know Drs will very often not speak to people querying their place on the list/their group. This absolutely should not mean you can’t get an appointment for anything though! That’s ridiculous.

Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 13:26

No I have not asked for a sick note ( which will mean I would not be working) but I would like to know what part of my health has changed to remove me from the SPL. And as I was manually removed, then I was not considered in all recent a additions as removed from that.

I would like to know if there is an error or whether a medical Gp had made a decision on my health. If someone is removed from CEV list they have to be informed. Nobody has done that. I have not been told I am off CEV list by anyone. So no idea if an error or not. I would like correct medical information from whoever has the ability to give me that - which is not a receptionist.

I have not been phoning up asking to go on spare vaccine list like others have, or questioning why I have no vaccine. I would like to know my medical status is correct and not an error.I am aware mistakes happen.

1 in 3 adults have had a vaccine. Have a look at my list of medical conditions - I am not a 1 in 3 person worthy of a vaccine. Thankfully all adults will get a vaccine by 31 Aug so if they do it by age after over 50’s I should be able to book myself on the website the same as any other 40-50.

However, should I contract covid with no vaccine the likelihood is I will cost the NHS a fortune in hospitalisation and perhaps longer term care. Nothing I can do about that. But I need to know if o should be on the SPL and save the NHS or not. If signed off I will be on full pay and who is going to collect the evidence for my exam pupils CAG to determine their GCSE and A level results. If I am signed off as not able to be vaccinated it will not be me. Those A level students deserve the right grade, but if I am signed off then nobody else can set and mark regular pieces of work to provide a portfolio of evidence.

OP posts:
Original poster
RhubarbCrumbling · 21/02/2021 13:28

Oh I also have bronchiecstasis, forgot that one.

OP posts:
FelicityBennett · 21/02/2021 13:34

Does your surgery have e consult or a similar online consultation system ? Have a look on your surgery’s website as some have added them and not really said much about them

ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 21/02/2021 13:40

Apologies if these have been covered.
You don't need to be signed off in order to be off on Monday - you can self certify for at least 5 days. Use that time to get a GP. You aren't just wanting an appt to discuss the removal from the list - you are in extreme distress/panic etc and need to have a call.
I am in Scotland and individual staff are definitely entitled to individual risk assessments. It's not the case that everyone vulnerable just has to show up in school. I can't imagine health and safety rules being that different in England.
Your health centre seems to be running a poor system, you need to get hold of a doctor to find out what has happened. What's the complaint service called - Pals? - is that for GPS too?

MyDcAreMarvel · 21/02/2021 13:40

@RhubarbCrumbling I sent you a pm.

ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 21/02/2021 13:41

I get you don't want to not be able to assess your students, but if you take a week to sort this properly there's still plenty of time.