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Original poster

I am fuming!! this is bloody ridiculous!

31 replies

ratbunny · 18/02/2008 14:29

I have decided, for whatever reasons, to opt for single jabs not the mmr. So I would like to know where I can have them done locally.

At his hib booster, I asked the nurse, who referred me to the health visitor. I had a doctors appointment today, who just said ' I don't know, look on the internet for a doctor in Harley street'.

So out of desperation I phoned the HV. Who said 'we arent allowed to tell you'. I answered that I have made up my mind to do them, I just need to know where I can pay to have them done locally. 'we arent allowed to advise you on this'. I stated that if I didnt know, I could end up not vaccinating my son. 'It's govt guidelines, we arent allowed to advise you'

Bloody hell! this is irresponsible surely. I don't want to talk to them about the mmr, I have made up my mind, and know what the govt guidelines are, I just wanted advice on where there may be a clinic where I can have them done!!!!! So, in reality, if I can't find anywhere ds really COULD end up not immunised.

ARRGGGHHH!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
ratbunny · 18/02/2008 14:29

btw I find it very hard to believe that they really DONT know a clinic either locally or in London that they could point me towards...

OP posts:
mankyscotslass · 18/02/2008 14:38

She probably does know but really can't say....my HV says guidlines are really strict and they can only advise on what's gov policy....madness really.

Original poster
ratbunny · 18/02/2008 14:39

but surely it is better to let someone know a place where they can have it done rather than let a child go totally unvaccinated?!?!

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wordgirl · 18/02/2008 14:43

To be honest I can see why they wouldn't want to give you information on something which they don't sanction and don't recommend. www.immunisation.nhs.uk/FAQs/Can_I_have_single_vaccines_on_the_NHS,_if_not_where_can_I_buy_them

Karen999 · 18/02/2008 14:45

I agree with you Wordgirl.

flowerybeanbag · 18/02/2008 14:48

Frustrating but understandable I think, having read wordgirl's link, sorry. You can visualise the trouble someone could get into really can't you, say your child got measles in between the individual jabs, GP asks why not vaccinated, you say did individual ones at clinic as recommended by [name of hv], cue rapped knuckles of hv.

posieflump · 18/02/2008 14:49

also agree with Wolfgirl
The NHS don't recommend single vaccines so why would they direct you to someone who does do this? Just as they probably don't refer you to a private clinic for treatment when it can be done on the NHS

margoandjerry · 18/02/2008 14:51

I think they are quite reasonable tbh. I had single vaccines but I googled it myself.

marmadukescarlet · 18/02/2008 14:54

I asked a locum GP when my DS had German Measles and he told me I'd be best/cheaper to go to France to get them - erm, thanks for that!

When I ggogled I did find a travelling clinic who have a base near me, he was a reg Paed (got a friend to look him up)

catchingzeds · 18/02/2008 14:55

Try jabs.org (think I've got that right!)

Whereabouts are you? We used a lovely surgery in Sutton Coldfield. We couldn't find one locally so it meant a 2.5hr drive but it was recommended by a friend. It's quite hard choosing from a list so preferred to do it that way.

sophiewd · 18/02/2008 15:01

also try directhealth2000, I think thats the one my HV gave me, never had a problem with them giving me information at all, we had ours done in Bath but I found that through google.

marmadukescarlet · 18/02/2008 15:05

I do actually think they should give you some advice, dear god they (govmt)are happy to advise/interfere in every other aspect of our lives.

If someone pierces your ears they have to be registered, regulated and insured etc and how do we know if the 'DR' about to stick out LO's with a needle full of ? is who s/he says s/he is? (Apart from googling etc)

Nappyzone · 18/02/2008 15:07

we used directhealth2000 about 3 years ago - they have clinics all over the uk or did then. Good luck

belcantavinissima · 18/02/2008 15:10

our hv gave me print outs of all the info, for single and combined vaccines and gave me numbers of healthcare places to contact for the singles.

lulabelle · 18/02/2008 16:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TrinityRhino · 18/02/2008 16:23

ratbuny, its a little silly to say that he may go unimmunised if they dont help you find a place
surely you would not have bothered at all if at the end of it you would just let him go unimmunised

Threadworm · 18/02/2008 16:26

Sems reasonable for NHS workers to refuse to advise on a course of action that the NHS does not support. Especially when their advice could leave them open to a professional liability.

Drusilla · 18/02/2008 16:30

We used these - went to the clinic in Bath but they have several throughout the UK. We used them because they tell you the maker and country of origin of the vaccines they use. My HV actually pointed me in their direction but made it very clear it was off the record and that her advice was to do the combined MMR.

Drusilla · 18/02/2008 16:33

And I do think it is perfectly reasonable for an HV not to give you any advice on single vaccinations. I just happened to have one who was prepared to stick her neck out a little.

OneHandedTypist · 18/02/2008 16:38

They can't recommend anywhere because of liability; the way the vaccines are licensed or not licensed, isn't covered by the professional liability insurance that hvs or other nhs professionals have.

Just imagine you went to the one clinic (that offers single jabs) that is shoddily run, they give a jab from a batch that has gone bad, and it makes you ill. You could sue the hv for recommending that clinic, and she'd be found professionally negligent for sugesting the clinic was safe, especially if they're using a vacc not licensed on the nhs.

So their hands are tied, they can't suggest anything specific.

Original poster
ratbunny · 18/02/2008 17:21

thanks for your recommendations. I think that is what I am after really, rather than having a rant (that should go in aibu instead!)

marmaduke - that is exactly my point. how do I know the doctor immunising my child is ok? or that, as onehandedtypist said, isn't shoddily run.

trinity - if it came to it and I didn't know where I could have singles, I still wouldnt give him the mmr, so I guess he would be unvaccinated..

I am near Cambridge. i would have thought there would be a clinic somewhere nearby instead of having to travel down to london (and even then, who knows where to?!). And I can't see anything on the directhealth website that indicated they are nearby.

I can see the point of the whole litigation thing, but if someone is going to refuse a certain treatment to which there is an alternative, isn't it a little irresponsible not to direct them to somewhere they can get it? It isn't as if I am doing anything illegal.

are the singles really not covered by profdessional liability insurance?

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OneHandedTypist · 18/02/2008 17:25

hv told me in 2000 she couldnt administer singles bcuz the singles arent licensed by nhs, she could there4/also not recomend a clinic as they would all b non-nhs. I presume that hasnt changed since, it did make wonder how would i know f a clinic was trustworthy to adminiister. I went 4 mmr after all.
Good luck.

OneHandedTypist · 18/02/2008 17:26

nhs should just offer singles, I agree!

TsarChasm · 18/02/2008 17:29

Annoying though it is, I think I do understand why they don't/can't help you with where to go for singles as it's not what they recommend.

We used Choice in London but they have clinics all over the place .

Original poster
ratbunny · 18/02/2008 17:32

tsarchasm - thanks. they appear to have one near us, but instead of the location it just says : 'every 12 weeks from 10 - 4'!!
this is going to be harder than I thought! lol

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