Doctor won't do 8 week jabs

[starlight1111]

So my son needs his 8 week jabs, I rang the surgery, they said their protocol is a 40 minute baby check before they'll let them have the jabs, but the appointment is so long they can only do one a day, the nearest appointment is end of August when he'll be 15 weeks, then after that, I'd need to arrange an appointment for the jabs.
So I said well he needs the jabs way before then. The letter states they need to be done as close to 8weeks as possible.
So by the time he has his 8 weeks jabs he'll have missed the 12 week ones and the 16 week ones will be due.
I was on the phone to the receptionist for ages explaining I'm not happy to wait and who's responsible if my son catches something the jabs are for, I got nowhere and she said you could always change surgery or go private, does anyone know what I can do and what my rights are?

Yes that’s insane and not at all normal. Usually it’s a nurse that does them though, not the doctor. Neither of my children have had a 40 minute check with them either, you’re just in and out. Make a complaint to the surgery and maybe contact your midwives?

Have you had your 6 week check, for you and baby? I’m wondering if she’s confused it with that somehow?

I probably wouldn't have waited until he was 8 weeks before trying to sort this out personally, the GP crisis is well advertised.

Anyway, I would contact the practice manager if I were you.

Yes that’s not good enough. They need jabs at 8 weeks, you can’t wait until 15 weeks. I’d go in person and stand there until they sort it.

I know I’m not helpful but you’re correct in thinking that’s not right at all. That’s so irresponsible. If you can change surgery do - and explain on sign up why.

That's awful, I would go In person and just refuse to leave until it's resolved. Jabs at the correct age are absolutely vital.

I would complain to the practice manager as that’s completely ridiculous.

I've just been given a mid-August GP appointment to just to REQUEST a blood test (for myself - known medics issue) and then it will probably be another 4-6 weeks for the blood draw and then another 4-6 weeks after that for the treatment appointment.

It's NUTS, but they have to do better than that for children. I think the receptionist are so besieged and low in morale they've stopped thinking or listening.

Email the practice manager as a first step. Just lay it out as you have here.

@BusyCM but GPs don't do the jabs. They are done by a nurse.
@starlight1111 It doesn't sound normal procedure at all. It does sound like something has been misunderstood somewhere along the line. Did you ask for "a doctors appointment" or "my baby needs their 8 week jabs" - because as jabs are done by the nurses the receptionist might have thought you had other issues if you requested the doctor.
Contact your Health Visitor and say what you've been told - they might be able to contact the surgery on your behalf.

My doctor mentioned at my 6 week check (which was scheduled to be half an hour so not long off your 40 mins) that they won’t let you book the jabs until you’ve had this. So this sounds exactly like your situation. Have you had that check? How old is the baby? The big problem here is waiting a month for a routine appointment which is supposed to be done at a set time - though if you’ve left it really late to book the 6 week check that might be on you. If you’ve had the 6 week check then u have no idea what they mean!!

8 weeks jabs he'll have missed the 12 week ones and the 16 week ones will be due.

That's not how it works, babies have a set protocol of vaccinations that need to be spaced at least 4 weeks apart. He won't miss his 12 week ones, he'll have them at 15,19 and 23 weeks.

Agree it sounds like he needs the NIPE doing which does have to be by a GP, but expect the vaccines will be done by a nurse

Not sure what else the practice can do though if they can only accommodate one NIPE a day. Try contacting your HV for their advice?

The first set of jabs for all four of mine was done on the same day has the 8 week check.
Go did the 8 week check then the nurse did the jabs .

OK being pedantic- GP surgeries!

These appointments need to be made weeks in advance so yes it sounds about right..! We were told to book in as we left the labour ward.

@BusyCM I know there's a shortage of GPs but not so much nurses.
Getting a nurses appointment doesn't seem as difficult (from experience of the various different surgeries my family uses).
@starlight1111 has your baby had the 6 week check?

Seriously? That's nuts!

It's very justbaz difficult at my surgery. We have 2 nurses one only works Fridays and one only works 10-2! It's madness!

How far in advance of eight weeks did you ring?

Ours do the 6 week check with the 8 week jabs - is that what they meant?

I had baby and my “6 week check” at 8 weeks just before her 8 week jabs. Was one big 45 minute appointment. It was booked from when she was about 4 weeks old I wouldn’t expect to just ring up and get an appointment straight away if baby is already 8 weeks.

Two children, never heard of that. Surely you receive a letter/text and just go for the jabs?

@BuffaloCauliflower the doctor does an 8 week check before your "allowed" to book the jabs

@BusyCM they only let you book once their registered and our birth registry place only had an appointment last week and you need the birth certificate to register them, my health visitor said they should do it with the red book but they refused

@TamingofShrews where I live is quite remote and I'm not sure there even is another surgery in the catchment

@bakewellbride she was so rude, she didn't care at all