Initially I put my name down at the local pharmacy, but they were short of supplies.

I rang my GP surgery without much hope, on a Thursday. Got straight through, which was unusual. Was told flu clinic was Saturday morning, and to arrive strictly between 09.00 and 09.15.

I got there at 09.00. There was a queue down the street of maybe 50 old people. Some unable to stand, and some on mobility scooters. Eventually these were given priority. We shuffled forward over about half an hour. At least it was dry, but cold, but it could have been better organised. By the time I got inside, the queue was much longer.

I expect covid vaccinations to be a similar experience.

Local Surgery near us has run out and is turning away people in the group who should get it and have been asked to come in. When asked they said they had used all the shots they have and now run out. Someone found out which drug they use and where from. He phoned them and was told it is in stock and freely available if ordered. He asked when the GP's generally place the order and was told at the start of each year. They can amend the order at any time. I am assuming there is a budget and due to the increased offer this year it is overwhelmed and additional funds have not been allocated. Our local GP 8 miles away is still providing shots. I give in.

In comparison, MrsW was contacted by her GP, and given timeslot. She went, was the only one there, straight in, straight out, job done.

My old retired GP, to his credit, was a few behind me in my queue. When he got in, they told him he should have arranged a special appointment, but he said no. He would take his turn with everyone else.

I had a text message to ring and book in October, the GP surgery did it at the same time as my Hormone Therapy injection. No fuss and no delay, one in one out wait in car park with mask on and they called us in one by one.

Only very minor thing is wife had to go 3 days later for hers as they couldn’t coordinate us both together.

No complaints

BR
Colin

seems to be a bit of a post code lottery - our local GP has a great system - appointment at 0903, arrive no more than 5 mins early, usual temp check and questions about health, no more than 2 people in any one waiting area, walk in to nurse's room, don't sit, painless jab, ushered out the back door, no more than 3 or 4 minutes for the whole thing. Very slick and they seem to have plenty of stock of the vaccine.

Same with us, allowed wife and I in together. In the front door out the back door.totall time 4min. Very well organized.

Same here in together, we had ours a month ago having received a letter requesting us to make an appointment slot.

Mrs F is asthmatic and gets a flu jab. This is how hers worked she was impressed. They had an excellent system running. She didn't even have to touch any of the doors as she went in and out (through a strict one way system). I don't qualify for a fee flu jab and will wait until the rush dies down to have another go at a local pharmacist having failed twice to get a booking. Last year it was easy for me to get a flu jab.

I just rang the surgery , they gave a hour time slot on 26th of September, you joined a socially distanced queue outside with face masks, as the queue entered the main surgery reception, nurse check temperatures, people required to use hand cleanser., Some 100 plus people in queue when I was there, which then split into 3 queues in a one way system, one for each of the 3 rooms being used, they just checked your details on NHS computer and then jab and straight out through the separate back door. Probably took about 15 minutes from first joining the queue to being back outside heading home. Very efficient and dealt with quite a few people in a very short time and touched absolutely nothing. Where I live in Lytham St Annes is a big retirement area so they are used to dealing with large annual flu vaccination programmes.

regards

It was like that for me too, but she only had a few hundred shots available. Many other GPS are still waiting to get their allocation.