Covid boosters no longer being done at GP?

[Ryannah]

I took my Dad for his booster at the local GP about three weeks ago. It’s my Mum’s turn now but the GP says they can no longer assist with getting her vaccinated. Apparently all Covid clinics have been removed from the local practice, a decision made at the top level by the CCG. So I either have to find out myself where there’s a walk-in centre and get her there, or take her to a vaccination hub (nearest is 10 miles away).

AIBU to think this isn’t exactly going to help with an already slow roll-out? Especially when the people being vaccinated are mostly elderly and vulnerable people who may not have access to cars and internet.

[quote gogohm]@Lemonsyellow waiting an hour is ridiculous is your are working, employers should not have to have employees taking 3-4 hours off just to get a vaccine with travel [/quote]
I work full time. Waiting an hour for many medical appointments is normal. I waited six hours for a booked hospital appointment a few weeks ago.

My DH is booked in for his booster at GP

Some people aren’t prepared to out themselves out at all. Next they’ll be saying everyone should have a home visit for their jab.

People forget the bigger picture. Loads of tiny local clinics are not a good use of resources. There’s a massive backlog for GPs to get through.

Quite simply, people have to make some kind of effort and yes, we do need to help elderly relatives if we can. That could be driving them some distance, or taking some time off work or using part of our weekend, or organising them a taxi or paying for it.

There will be further support for those who are housebound or really cannot get somewhere, but for those who can, they just have to find a way to get there, and families should be helping. There are not ghe resources to provide it locally to all, or to provide transport etc.

Some people expect too much and not to take any responsibility or make any effort themselves. Note zi am not referring to those who genuinely need extra help and support.

Surely it's worth a bit of extra effort to help our older family members to get their jabs as soon as possible?

I was happy to do a 20 mile round trip for 1st, 2nd, and booster jabs.

Try https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/book-or-manage-a-booster-dose-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine/?fbclid=IwAR11AqbPnZFmofV4XXUcLvPu10E9RSsP7LV56RCuj2oPCmM5bnriWRQTE

One of our local places is a chemist.

I would love to be able to get my booster 10 miles away. The nearest option for me is 30 miles away.

Have you checked the online booking system?

Even if it is 10 miles away, that's a hell of a lot less incovenient that if they get Covid.

No way will you be waiting for hours. Took my Mum to a hub and we were done within 5 mins of arriving. I went to a vaccine hub in a different part of the country and ditto.

Had to wait 15 mins after but that would have been the same at the GPs

There are some people who cannot be vaccinated at hubs because of specialist needs but the vast majority of people being vaccinated can be

A lot of people cant travel due to poverty or lack of bus services.

If its a choice of paying out for buses and taxis or food/bills people will choose the latter. Some internet random who couldnt give a shit about them which is obvious by the attitudes on here will just rubber stamp it.

FFS. I work for a surgery, been helping out with our GP vaccination clinics. I've given up however many Saturdays, and got further behind with my normal workload whenever it's a weekday clinic, and then spent the rest of the week trying to catch up. Our volunteers have stood in the rain and the cold for hours on end. Happy to do it, as we all are, because it's the very least we can do, but then people pop up whinging that they have to drive their mother ten miles to get vaccinated??

Piss off.

@MercyBooth

A lot of people cant travel due to poverty or lack of bus services. If its a choice of paying out for buses and taxis or food/bills people will choose the latter. Some internet random who couldnt give a shit about them which is obvious by the attitudes on here will just rubber stamp it.

Fair point - but that's not how the OP came across, more that it was an inconvenience. I apologise if poverty is playing a part in this for the Op. in which case, if they live anywhere near me (North West) I'd happily offer to help out with transport

@VicSynix

FFS. I work for a surgery, been helping out with our GP vaccination clinics. I've given up however many Saturdays, and got further behind with my normal workload whenever it's a weekday clinic, and then spent the rest of the week trying to catch up. Our volunteers have stood in the rain and the cold for hours on end. Happy to do it, as we all are, because it's the very least we can do, but then people pop up whinging that they have to drive their mother ten miles to get vaccinated??

Piss off.

This!!! GP practice and vaccination staff are putting in every hour god sends at the moment to keep both services running as efficiently and effectively as possible in these unprecedented and high demand times, then you get entitled arseholes demanding everything on their doorstep and at a time convenient for them like OP. It's 10 miles away not the bloody moon!

I think there is some confusion with this topic s and some of the posts
Getting your jabs at a GP is not like having a doctors appointment. It is pretty much the same as getting it at a chemist or a hub. The GP staff text you, you ring or text back and you get a time slot at, usually, either a large GP in your area with the space, or at a clinic. You turn up and you are jabbed by a nurse along with the others there for the same slot. It is not like having a GP appointment at all

The difference between a GP arranged vaccination and the other types is that they can make special arrangements for patients with certain needs (eg a learning disability) whereas hubs etc do not.

Actually, our GP didn't ring. They sent a text and a link and you went through and booked your own appointment. Much more efficient. However, it was quicker to get it at the hub.
No criticism of the surgery, though. They've done walk ins at the weekends for flu and boosters.

@VicSynix

FFS. I work for a surgery, been helping out with our GP vaccination clinics. I've given up however many Saturdays, and got further behind with my normal workload whenever it's a weekday clinic, and then spent the rest of the week trying to catch up. Our volunteers have stood in the rain and the cold for hours on end. Happy to do it, as we all are, because it's the very least we can do, but then people pop up whinging that they have to drive their mother ten miles to get vaccinated??

Piss off.

Couldn't agree more! One of the problems the NHS is facing is people, like OP, with an "Amazon mentality", who expect to be able to order what they want and have it delivered to them almost instantly. The NHS is not set up or funded to fulfil unrealistic expectations like this

@Spikeyball

The difference between a GP arranged vaccination and the other types is that they can make special arrangements for patients with certain needs (eg a learning disability) whereas hubs etc do not.

I'm not sure how it works everywhere but I know locally we have a telephone number for our large vaccination centres when if you need adjustments making so you can access the vaccines they can do that then. Most pharmacies are keen to help as well but sometimes they're physically small places so it can be harder to make special arrangements.

My vaccination centre is 15 miles away so I probably won't bother for the moment, there may be somewhere nearer in the new year, I'm not in any rush.

"I'm not sure how it works everywhere but I know locally we have a telephone number for our large vaccination centres when if you need adjustments making so you can access the vaccines they can do that then"

It depends on the level of adjustment. There are some people you wouldn't get through the door without a meltdown. Parents of vunerable teenagers were advised to consider carefully whether a standard clinic would be suitable for their young persons needs. Ds had to be vaccinated in the car by someone who was aware they might get hit doing it.

Our local surgery took the decision not to do boosters so that it could catch up on everything else, and explained that clearly to everyone via its website and social media. However, they have a pharmacy in the same building and that is doing the boosters, as is the one in the next town over (about 6 miles away). I've booked online as soon as I was able, and have an appointment in a couple of weeks. I do worry about the more vulnerable/non-computer literate and whether they're being helped to find appointments and access them, but the Health Centre has a good system of connecting in with the local community, and I'm really hoping this includes checking in on those who haven't had boosters.

None of the GPs in my area have done them, if you keep checking the link one closer might come up, when I first got my link I got one 20 miles away, I waited afew days and then got one 0.5 miles away.
They get booked up fast if they've done a big text drop as everyone will try and book straight away.

@EffOrfagain

My vaccination centre is 15 miles away so I probably won't bother for the moment, there may be somewhere nearer in the new year, I'm not in any rush.

I don’t know what you mean by “my vaccination centre”. Are there not lots of chemist’s nearby that are doing vaccines? I have a substantial choice of venues within five miles.

I don’t know what you mean by “my vaccination centre”. Are there not lots of chemist’s nearby that are doing vaccines? I have a substantial choice of venues within five miles.

If I lived in or near the county town there are loads of chemists doing vaccinations. My vaccination centre refers to the nearest one, it's on the outskirts of the county town. Looking online it seems there is lots of availability in the 2 county towns nearest me, both about 15 miles away but none in the smaller towns.

I don’t think people understand living rurally.

No one I know have been vaccinated through the GPs
I had my 1st dose at a hospital clinic (linked to my long term care)
2nd at the large local sporting arena
3rd at a local vaccination clinic in town
And I don't know where my booster will be as that's not until for another 6mths

The second one at the sporting arena was close but badly organised
The 3rd at the vaccination centre in town was very well organised and very quick.
No queues and including the 15min post jab wait I was out in about 25mins.
Apparently I could have also booked for the village pharmacy I had been over 50 and combined with a flu jab if over 65 if but that option wasn't available for under 50's or going was 3rd jab instead of booster.
The booster clinics are much less busy that the ones last summer so shouldn't be as long a wait