DH - tried - to get a flu jab

I envy those with surgeries that will book you in for the flu jab

It is very difficult to get an appointment with any of our GPs at the moment but they are offering appointments for flu vaccinations. We haven't had ours yet, the appointment is for later this week and we were warned to make sure to keep it because they are running short of vaccine.

I hope MOnica has read these comments. There are many out there getting their flu jabs done safely and quickly.

I would change surgery MOnica. As someone has said. it's not NHS causing your problem, it's the management at the surgery.

Our surgery are brilliant with the flu jab, they book a local hall and there is a steady stream of people coming at allotted times. One way system in place, loads of hand sanitiser, full PPE for the nurses, can’t fault it.

Here in France we automatically get a prescription for our flu vaccine pack along with a start date for collecting it from any pharmacy, in the post. You then can ask the pharmacist to do it or take it to the local nurses' station for them to administer or, as I do, do it yourself. I swab my upper arm with TCP, press the hypodermic to eject air and pop it in. Simples! Why is everything so complicated in the UK?

I can't fault our surgery with its organisation for the flu jab. They use the village hall and started in Septembergoing right through to the end of November. There were many dates to choose from with just 1 minute apart. I went in one door, gave my name, walked to the nurse, jab and out another door. In all it just 5 minutes.

There seems to be a big difference between how doctors surgeries are operating.
My husband and I had ours done on Saturday but had to book an appointment first, queue outside but vaccinations were done inside the surgery. We are in our 80s so relieved to get it done.
Am annoyed about the way the government has been encouraging people to have one and then there are problems for everyone to do that

specki4eyes

Here in France we automatically get a prescription for our flu vaccine pack along with a start date for collecting it from any pharmacy, in the post. You then can ask the pharmacist to do it or take it to the local nurses' station for them to administer or, as I do, do it yourself. I swab my upper arm with TCP, press the hypodermic to eject air and pop it in. Simples! Why is everything so complicated in the UK?

Not complicated everywhere. Most surgeries have it well organised.

It does sound a good idea what happens in France but I can't see how this cuts down queues at pharmacists or nurses' stations in heavily populated areas.

We had our flu jabs last week. Made appointments online. It was very well organised. In and out in five minutes. Having said that, I often go to our local Tesco pharmacy to have it done because it’s closer and is still free.

Our Dr's surgery's were very well organised, the council let them have a car park for a drive through flu clinic everyone had a letter and we then had to phone for an appointment,mine was yesterday and my daughter took me down as I can't drive, it was very well organised someone at the entrance met us and pointed us to the next Marshall who asked which surgery I was with then told us which way to go someone else told us which pod to go to a nurse came out i handed over my letter she asked the usual questions gave me the injection through the car window and then we left

Does your local Tesco/Asda have a pharmacy? we both had ours done there and was free.

MOnica,don't go near the slaughter-house.

Had our flu vaccinations this week at the Health centre. Very well organised. 10 other people there waiting, all social distancing and wearing masks. At appointed time we went in one by one, had our names taken and then directed along a corridor to a nurse who gave us the injection, then out of the building via another door. Arm a bit sore but no ill effects. Couldn’t fault the system. We live in Wales

Our surgery system was far better than the usual one. Normally everybody with surnanes beginning with A&B for example, turn up to a crowded waiting room and are herded in and out. This time you rang up, booked a jab, turned up to a very efficient waiting room with all furniture taken out, very socially distanced, only one other person in the room, a one way system in 0lavr. Felt calmer and very safe.

Our surgery was utterly brilliantly organised with the Flu jab. It was well organised, no waiting, very efficient and showing just how well things can be done on the NHS.
However, this morning I have received a text from the surgery saying the hospital have ordered a blood test from my mother within a week of her discharge from hospital but they do not have an appointment for at least a couple of weeks!
The NHS is wonderful in a serious crisis but the day to day stuff often falls short. I think the Elderly are particularly badly served. My mother needs help with her medication to keep her alive and well. Each morning and evening the Community Nurse (CN) tries to discharge her. Her early dementia means that she can't take them regularly or takes more than one dose which has recently caused falls which put her in hospital. She has no understanding that this is a problem so the she tells the CN that she can cope with her medicine and they say they only listen to the patient. The huge bag of untaken blister packs back up my concerns as do the dustpan full of dropped medication but they only listen to what she says because it suits their purpose. It isn't as if she refuses to cooperate with them so she isn't suffering needlessly with their intervention. I've got to the stage where I think it would suit them if she didn't take the pills and insulin, suffered more organ failure and shuffled off her mortal coil.

Our surgery have been very efficient. We received letters giving appointment dates for vaccines to be administered at the surgery. I would be happy to receive/buy a flu kit and administer the jabs for DH and myself.

specki4eyes

Here in France we automatically get a prescription for our flu vaccine pack along with a start date for collecting it from any pharmacy, in the post. You then can ask the pharmacist to do it or take it to the local nurses' station for them to administer or, as I do, do it yourself. I swab my upper arm with TCP, press the hypodermic to eject air and pop it in. Simples! Why is everything so complicated in the UK?

There’s nothing complicated about booking an appointment, turning up and having it done. Any complications this year are purely due to the need to distance from others - surely this is an issue in French pharmacies and surgeries as well?

I’m intrigued by the handing out of vaccination packs to all and sundry and trusting everybody to look after them properly. Surely they’re supposed to be kept in a fridge till used, and properly disposed of afterwards?

I had my jab yesterday. My surgery were great, sent me a text , made an appointment. There was a one way system through the building, hand sanitizers and masks available at the entrance, no queue. As each person left another person arrived. I don’t know how they managed it, as it’s a very busy practice.

Our Drs all very well organised, three nurses. we queued outside and were admitted by two receptionists ticking us off on a good old fashioned hand written list, we were handed a piece of paper which we gave to a nurse and were jabbed, we then left by a different door. Naturally you still can't see a Dr but at least something sorted out.

My surgery was wonderful! They gave appointments at two minute intervals on a Saturday with a one way route through. All worked very efficiently.

Had mine this morning. 9.20 appt, I walked and was early - only one person ahead of me in the queue, I was done and out again by ten past nine.

Our appointments were arranged by the surgery in July for September. The day before we received a text to remind us and on the day we were sent a text to say we could earlier than the agreed time if convenient. I think there were around six nurses administering the injections and it was incredibly efficient. The following month I had an appointment for a shingles vaccine and it was also done professionally. Mine is a very busy surgery so it can be done if the managers are any good.

Went into Lloyds pharmacy and booked my jab over the counter....had it week later! Haven’t been near my docs for 8 months.... perhaps I’m not as ill as I thought I was in the past . Feel sorry for folk who can’t get their jabs , must be a worry.

icanhandthemback

Our surgery was utterly brilliantly organised with the Flu jab. It was well organised, no waiting, very efficient and showing just how well things can be done on the NHS.
However, this morning I have received a text from the surgery saying the hospital have ordered a blood test from my mother within a week of her discharge from hospital but they do not have an appointment for at least a couple of weeks!
The NHS is wonderful in a serious crisis but the day to day stuff often falls short. I think the Elderly are particularly badly served. My mother needs help with her medication to keep her alive and well. Each morning and evening the Community Nurse (CN) tries to discharge her. Her early dementia means that she can't take them regularly or takes more than one dose which has recently caused falls which put her in hospital. She has no understanding that this is a problem so the she tells the CN that she can cope with her medicine and they say they only listen to the patient. The huge bag of untaken blister packs back up my concerns as do the dustpan full of dropped medication but they only listen to what she says because it suits their purpose. It isn't as if she refuses to cooperate with them so she isn't suffering needlessly with their intervention. I've got to the stage where I think it would suit them if she didn't take the pills and insulin, suffered more organ failure and shuffled off her mortal coil.

There is nothing more they can do or allowed to do except only what the patient says.

I do not or have ever worked for NHS.

However, the same happened with me twice. Mother and DH step-mother. My mother would have died within a few days of not taking one of her 11 tablets. In the end, my brother and I booked her a two week stay in a residential home. I told her I was away on holiday so wouldn't be able to visit her, I felt terrible at doing this as I wasn't going on holiday. After the two weeks I visited and she didn't mention going home and continued to live there for three relatively happy years with me visiting every weekend.

Your only option is to get your mother to agree to you being Power of Attorney (medical). The doctors etc have to listen and follow your instructions by law. After my father died, my mother agreed to the POA. I could have enforced her stay in the home if she hadn't agreed or I could have enforced the doctors etc to do as I wanted.

My DH's step mother wouldn't agree to one. I'm convinced she was not taking all her medication. She'd had a number of blackouts resulting in bad falls. After 6 months of these she was found dead on the bathroom floor one morning by the carer. The care company had brought the blackouts to the attention of the doctors but there was nothing they could legally do. After one hospital stay as a result of a fall, I complained and they said the same. Very apologetic but the law says that only the patient's word has to be accepted. They even tried to get her to do the POW whilst I was there.

Our system was exemplary!
We got appointment letters inviting us to attend at a local conference centre (where there is plenty of free parking) for our flu jabs. It had a number to call if you couldn't make it but both our appontments were on Saturdays so well thought out for anyone working (unless of course they work on Saturdays!).
We arrived, wearing masks as requested, the letters were taken from us as by one person, our temperature was taken by another then we walked in where there must have been about 15 well spaced tables to go to for your jab. You were then directed out by the back door. It was a real flowline and very efficient and it left our GP's free to run their surgeries as normal.

My surgery was great. Text received to say time for us over 65s to book a flu jab appointment. Rang. appointment a few days later which was done in surgery car park. No queues. Two nurses giving jabs. Out in a matter of minutes. Job done. No complaints.