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Original poster

DH 'offered' vaccination, but can't get an appointment. AIBU to think the appointment system is not fair?

66 replies

Boxerbinky · 23/02/2021 07:45

My DH is type 1 Diabetic, so received a text from our GP asking him to call for an appointment for his COVID jab a week ago. The phone line opened at 10am, he got through at 10.03 and there were no appointments for the week. They took his details in case of a cancellation and said call back in a week. He called again yesterday and the advisor explained that our GP (where he has to get the jab) a surgery with 9000 patients was given only 50 slots, only 1000 appointments were given out in our area, which according to stats is one of the worst hit for COVID in the region. At that rate he may not get his jab til next year, but Boris has met his target by 'offering' him an appointment Angry
I have no problem with extra vaccines being used up rather than wasted, but I also know a number of none vulnerable people who have had the jab by appointment because they are tenuously connected to someone who works in a hospital. AIBU to think this is not right?

OP posts:
Tippexy · 23/02/2021 08:33

You’re implying that he’s extremely clinically vulnerable as you said that he was in one of the four top target groups. In that case, he should call 119 and get booked in.

Also, have you tried entering his details on the NHS booking website? Sorry but I don’t believe for a second it wasn’t offering any appointments. There is huge spare capacity at the hubs.

thewooster · 23/02/2021 08:43

My husband is critically vulnerable and booked via the online NHS system and got his vaccine within 24 hours. My friend and had the same experience and also a neighbour booked in next day.

They were also offering same day vaccines at 2 centres within our county when I booked for my husband, but bit too far for us to travel.

We are in central England. I looked at the site just now and they are still offering next day vaccines. I really hope he gets sorted.

Thimbleberries · 23/02/2021 09:24

Group 6 has only just started in lots of places. The targets were for Group 4, so if he's actually extremely vulnerable, then he should be able to book in through the national site. Group 6 is the massive group that is going to take weeks, and the target isn't until 15 April. So there will hopefully be still lots of appointments in the coming weeks. I had to book 2 weeks ahead for mine, as my GP only did 2 days this month, and group 6 is only via GPs here.

mumboss1984 · 23/02/2021 09:26

Call 119, they are really good.

Bells3032 · 23/02/2021 10:14

Lots of pharmacists round here are advertising on the local facebook group that they have slots of group 6 patience with evidence of their illness. I'd recommend joining one if you can and seeing if any in your area are doing the same

Dementedswan · 23/02/2021 10:19

Is 119 the number for vaccine enquires?

meditationsituation · 23/02/2021 15:32

@Dementedswan

Is 119 the number for vaccine enquires?
Yes, for booking vaccinations and for test enquiries.
3littlewords · 23/02/2021 15:49

Keep trying the NHS website ( every day) my relatives have managed to book theres online today, they are early 60s but CV so I'm not sure if they've just been able to book due to D.O.B alone or due to their health conditions.

fizzyp0p · 23/02/2021 16:14

i'm type 1 cant book online. no news from GP. just have to wait.

Babs1937 · 23/02/2021 16:27

I have just booked my appointment this morning, but all the available appointments were at locations at least 30 miles away.
This is fine for me as I am willing to travel and leave local appointments for those who are unable to travel.
I booked it through the NHS website and was offered a variety of locations, I think at least 6 different ones.

bungobango · 23/02/2021 16:28

I am in Liverpool and I had to contact surgery to put me in group 6. After that I could choose an appointment between several and got one on Thursday. This takes place in my regular surgery.

ikeepseeingit · 23/02/2021 16:42

I live in Merseyside but not quite the same area, I'm really surprised it's so bad where you are! Call 119 because there are places with space in Merseyside for sure, it can't hurt to ask at least.

3littlewords · 23/02/2021 16:56

@Boxerbinky

Knowsley, Merseyside.. this could be an area thing and if that's the case and other areas are managing this differently better it needs to be exposed!
I'm surprised you haven't been able to get an appointment at the saints rugby ground, hasn't widnes got a big hub too?
lazymum99 · 23/02/2021 17:21

Group 6 is being handled by the GPs. You should get a text with a link to book and that normally gives you a choice of times. The GP led vaccinations are happening at hubs in medical centres afaik. Everyone I have spoken to has had no problem with this. Unless your husband is also 64 or older you won’t be able to book on the NHS site. It can’t recognise group 6

3littlewords · 23/02/2021 18:04

@lazymum99 my family members in early 60s have booked via the online facility today (Manchester area)

meditationsituation · 23/02/2021 18:06

@lazymum99

Group 6 is being handled by the GPs. You should get a text with a link to book and that normally gives you a choice of times. The GP led vaccinations are happening at hubs in medical centres afaik. Everyone I have spoken to has had no problem with this. Unless your husband is also 64 or older you won’t be able to book on the NHS site. It can’t recognise group 6
But OP is saying her DH is group 4. So he will be able to book online.
Original poster
Boxerbinky · 23/02/2021 18:17

Thank you for all your replies.. he is group 6 and under 40. I have just spoke to 119 who were lovely and as helpful as possible, but advised that my DH cannot book an appointment through them or on the link and that he can only book through the GP as they are handling the group 6 for their own patients. The advisor yesterday told him that there were only 50 appointments available at our GP surgery, this is crazy given the size of our GP..these have understandably gone quickly so he is left in limbo, there must be a great number of other vulnerable people struggling to get these appointments. His only option is to keep trying the number he was given in the text 🙈

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 23/02/2021 18:22

@DavidsSchitt

What happens when 119 book your jab for you?

Does it get communicated to your GP so they don't offer another? Or is a note made on your records or something that your GP can see?

DP had his vaccine through work, the GP could see it on his records but he was still sent lots of texts asking him to book once group 4 started to be vaccinated.
3littlewords · 23/02/2021 18:37

@Boxerbinky

Thank you for all your replies.. he is group 6 and under 40. I have just spoke to 119 who were lovely and as helpful as possible, but advised that my DH cannot book an appointment through them or on the link and that he can only book through the GP as they are handling the group 6 for their own patients. The advisor yesterday told him that there were only 50 appointments available at our GP surgery, this is crazy given the size of our GP..these have understandably gone quickly so he is left in limbo, there must be a great number of other vulnerable people struggling to get these appointments. His only option is to keep trying the number he was given in the text 🙈
Ahh so sorry about that, this seems a bonkers approach seen as group 6 is probably 1 of the biggest groups hopefully they'll open it up to the online service soon. Do keep trying every day if you know his NHS number, I think they open it up online before they announce it to the public, it can't do any harm
Original poster
Boxerbinky · 23/02/2021 18:43

@3littlewords yes.. he will just have to keep calling and checking online, it makes no sense to expand to group 6 if they are not ready to handle the amount of appointments needed for the group. But he's been offered one, so the government can say they met the target!

OP posts:
Thimbleberries · 23/02/2021 18:46

the government aren't anywhere close to saying they've met the target! The target was for Groups 1-4.

Group 6 is huge, and most of us haven't been vaccinated yet. Some have, and some areas are further than others, but the target isn't until the end of March or something like that for Group 6. It's not like they are trying to hide something, just because he isn't one of the very first group 6 people to get one.

Original poster
Boxerbinky · 23/02/2021 18:53

@Thimbleberries my point is that the fact that my dh has been OFFERED an appointment, goes towards the data that they will have met the target when the figures are released. The fact that obtaining said appointment is nigh on impossible counts for nothing. The advisors in 119 and at GP's will have to field unnecessary calls rather than the situation being honestly managed.

OP posts:
Thimbleberries · 23/02/2021 19:01

Loads of group 6 haven't even been offered anything yet. He's still ahead of the game. By the end of March, it's much more likely that there will be an appointment somewhere, even if he has to travel. The government isn't claiming any targets have been done for group 6 - they've repeatedly said how large a group it is, 7.3 million or something as an estimate, so it's going to take time. They could have waited and not even given a link for him to book for the moment, but I'm not sure that would have made anyone happier - at least this way, he can take whatever appointment first comes up for grabs.

I'm pretty sure that when they do discuss targets, it will be about the total number of vaccinations they've done, based on best estimates of the numbers of people in each group. So claiming that they've offered vaccines to the most vulnerable - i.e., Groups 1-4, in practice meant that they had given 15 million vaccines. It can't mean that literally every single person in those groups who wanted one will have had one, because that's just too big a job to be able to ensure. The targets need some sort of proxy measure, and 15 million vaccines given seems reasonable. There will be something similar for when groups 5-9 are expected to be done by Mid-April. If he is still not able to find an appointment by then, he will be able to use the national site or something I'm sure.

A great many group 6 people won't be anywhere near to being offered a slot or even a link yet. When I was offered one, nothing was available for a couple of weeks, but I'd still rather have had the slot, as I've now been able to book for a couple of weeks later, and at least I know it's coming. Many people haven't been offered the chance to book yet.

Plummer88 · 23/02/2021 19:09

Group 6 is meant to be having their vaccination through the GP surgery while the mass vaccination centres are covering group 5.

Original poster
Boxerbinky · 23/02/2021 19:20

@Thimbleberries it would make more sense to focus on the most vulnerable, what's the point of wasting time and resources on expanding to a group they cannot yet handle. My DH said why not send me a link when they could handle the appointments or send me an appointment for the future? Instead people are taking up advisors time calling for appointments that don't exist! So I will agree to disagree.

OP posts:
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