Post by Ace on Oct 18, 2024 12:40:05 GMT
Very badly screwed up, but not completely broken yet...
My partner is immunocompromised. Her consultant told me to get flu and covid jabs to reduce the possibility of me infecting her.
I phoned my surgery to explain the circumstances and ask if they would give me the jabs. "No, you can't have the jabs at the surgery unless you're vulnerable yourself or over 65".
I asked if I could have them if I paid. "Yes, but not at the surgery. You will need to contact a local pharmacy".
I checked the NHS rules for free flu jabs online, which indicated that I should be entitled to a free flu jab because I was living with someone who was immunocompromised.
I went to Boots, as there was a poster on their door advertising jabs. I explained the circumstances and asked if I could have the jabs. "You can't have either of them for free, but you can have the flu jab for £20 and the covid jab for £98". I wasn't too bothered about the cost, I just wanted to do my bit to protect my partner, so I asked if I could have them straight away. "No, there's a 5 week waiting list and you'll need to book them online".
I returned home that evening to see if I could book them somewhere else more quickly. A quick Google suggested that the easiest way was to go via the NHS app. I did this and the app told me that I was entitled to a free flu jab. I clicked through to book the jab and was given an appointment at my nearest chemist for 09:40 the following morning. Brilliant. After confirming the appointment the app then asked if I would like to get a free covid jab at the same time! Obviously, I clicked through to accept and confirm. Brilliant.
The next morning I went to the chemist and was seen on time. After answering a series of questions I was informed that I was entitled to the free flu jab but not a free covid jab; a flowchart on the wall was pointed out to me that confirmed this. Seems crazy, I'm just trying to protect a vulnerable person. Apparently I can protect them from flu but not from covid! The nurse agreed. He'd had several other customers who had answered the questions correctly online and were given incorrect appointments. Anyway, as he had the jab in his hand ready for my appointment, I asked if I could just pay and have it now. "Don't worry" he said "I'll fiddle the paperwork and put you down as a carer. That way you can have it for free".
A great result for me and my partner, which I am very grateful for, but it really shouldn't be this hard to do the right thing.
My partner is immunocompromised. Her consultant told me to get flu and covid jabs to reduce the possibility of me infecting her.
I phoned my surgery to explain the circumstances and ask if they would give me the jabs. "No, you can't have the jabs at the surgery unless you're vulnerable yourself or over 65".
I asked if I could have them if I paid. "Yes, but not at the surgery. You will need to contact a local pharmacy".
I checked the NHS rules for free flu jabs online, which indicated that I should be entitled to a free flu jab because I was living with someone who was immunocompromised.
I went to Boots, as there was a poster on their door advertising jabs. I explained the circumstances and asked if I could have the jabs. "You can't have either of them for free, but you can have the flu jab for £20 and the covid jab for £98". I wasn't too bothered about the cost, I just wanted to do my bit to protect my partner, so I asked if I could have them straight away. "No, there's a 5 week waiting list and you'll need to book them online".
I returned home that evening to see if I could book them somewhere else more quickly. A quick Google suggested that the easiest way was to go via the NHS app. I did this and the app told me that I was entitled to a free flu jab. I clicked through to book the jab and was given an appointment at my nearest chemist for 09:40 the following morning. Brilliant. After confirming the appointment the app then asked if I would like to get a free covid jab at the same time! Obviously, I clicked through to accept and confirm. Brilliant.
The next morning I went to the chemist and was seen on time. After answering a series of questions I was informed that I was entitled to the free flu jab but not a free covid jab; a flowchart on the wall was pointed out to me that confirmed this. Seems crazy, I'm just trying to protect a vulnerable person. Apparently I can protect them from flu but not from covid! The nurse agreed. He'd had several other customers who had answered the questions correctly online and were given incorrect appointments. Anyway, as he had the jab in his hand ready for my appointment, I asked if I could just pay and have it now. "Don't worry" he said "I'll fiddle the paperwork and put you down as a carer. That way you can have it for free".
A great result for me and my partner, which I am very grateful for, but it really shouldn't be this hard to do the right thing.
