hepb vaccinations for course

Savvy_Sue

Nenen wrote: »

And, before anyone flames me, I do know that STD clinics also treat those who have come into contact with STDs through no fault of their own and of course I also think those people should have the jabs free.

The problem is that you can't interrogate people to determine whether they're 'deserving' of free treatment or not, because you want to encourage all those who need it (health staff AND others!) to have the jabs. I can't quite work out what you'd ask to determine whether someone 'deserved' the jabs if they weren't willing to disclose automatically, and even if they were willing, I still don't see how you'd work it out!

The notion of 'fairness' in the NHS vanished a while ago, IMO!

seaweasel

Nenen wrote: »

Is it just me or does it strike anyone else that it is less than fair to give free jabs to those who choose to put themselves at risk of STDs but charge an enormous amount to the very people who are going to train in the medical professions (who may well end up treating them)????? And, before anyone flames me, I do know that STD clinics also treat those who have come into contact with STDs through no fault of their own and of course I also think those people should have the jabs free.
The NHS postcode lottery is ridiculous... just the straw poll on here shows GPs charging anything between zero to prescription charge (around £6.50 I think) to over £90! :eek:

I don't agree at all. I've been to a STD clinic and have never had an STD. Both myself and my partner got tested, not because either of us thought we might have caught something, but because it's a responsible thing to do if you're entering a relationship. In fact it's a sensible thing to do every so often even (or especially) if you're not. STD clinics are a service for everyone, including those who want to get vaccinated for diseases like hepatitis (which they, and many other NHS services, will offer for free).

phoebe03cat

Well what a scam this is. Have been on the phone all morning getting more and more irrate and finally succeeded. Our clinic sends anyone needing occupational jabs to a clinic up the road so they can charge individuals or firms privately. I had quotes today ranging from £100 - £120. The other clinic has a reciprocal arrangement. I refused point blank to pay, pointed out that my daughter could not now go to uni as she has no income and didn't even need to pay prescription charges, yet another way of discriminating blah de blah and I would be going to my MP's surgery. The two practice managers have got together and resolved it somehow. Basically no, we suddenly don't have to pay-or it may be just a prescription charge (which of course we won't as she's under 18). As Ka7e pointed out they need to be done now. The NHS promised me a callback today which needless to say hasn't occurred. Thanks for all the suggestions, hopefully this thread may help someone else in the same position.

Nenen

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

The problem is that you can't interrogate people to determine whether they're 'deserving' of free treatment or not, because you want to encourage all those who need it (health staff AND others!) to have the jabs. I can't quite work out what you'd ask to determine whether someone 'deserved' the jabs if they weren't willing to disclose automatically, and even if they were willing, I still don't see how you'd work it out!

The notion of 'fairness' in the NHS vanished a while ago, IMO!

Sorry, I probably didn't make myself clear.. I don't think anyone attending STD clinic should pay... I think everyone there certainly 'deserves' treatment (and btw I think it's great you and your partner are so sensible)... but neither should students or anyone needing jabs for their work have to pay.

The only category that I personally think there is any possible justification for charging is those choosing to go on holiday to an exotic (and presumably expensive) location... and I'm not even sure about this as, if they decide to save their money and not have jabs then come home with the diseases, the NHS will spend a lot more money treating them... a few nights in ITU for one person would proobably pay for a large number of people to be innoculated and go some way to controlling the diseases.

Nenen

phoebe03cat wrote: »

Well what a scam this is. Have been on the phone all morning getting more and more irrate and finally succeeded. Our clinic sends anyone needing occupational jabs to a clinic up the road so they can charge individuals or firms privately. I had quotes today ranging from £100 - £120. The other clinic has a reciprocal arrangement. I refused point blank to pay, pointed out that my daughter could not now go to uni as she has no income and didn't even need to pay prescription charges, yet another way of discriminating blah de blah and I would be going to my MP's surgery. The two practice managers have got together and resolved it somehow. Basically no, we suddenly don't have to pay-or it may be just a prescription charge (which of course we won't as she's under 18). As Ka7e pointed out they need to be done now. The NHS promised me a callback today which needless to say hasn't occurred. Thanks for all the suggestions, hopefully this thread may help someone else in the same position.

Well done phoebe... :T :T :T your tenacity has certainly paid off... wish i had made more fuss myself now... could have saved a huge amount of money! Mind you our son was 21 when he went to Poland so maybe we wouldn't have been able to get anywhere.
With all the discrepencies and huge charges I wonder if Martin would be interested in investigating this issue? Does anyone know how we bring this to his attention?

phoebe03cat

Yes I've been trying to see how to contact him as this must be going on nationwide. The only link I can see is on the report spam so will give it a shot on there now. I think this is really scandalous, but well done to the practice managers for resolving it. Somehow I don't think they will be changing their policy though.

OK- done my best and used the only available link -

3plus1

I'm a member of the British Red Cross, and I got my hep B jabs for free.

As a volunteer first aider, I put myself at a higher risk than other members of the public. As such, it's only right that I don't have to pay for hep B jabs! I don't think trainee nurses or doctors should have to pay for jabs either, on the same grounds.

Anyone who is qualified to provide first aid when off duty, should be able to do so without compromising their personal safety. Someone who hasn't had the hep B course might feel unable to provide first aid in certain situations, and that could lead to loss of life. So the bloody jabs should of course be free. It's not a selfish thing - it's all about being able to protect yourself so you can help other people.

morg_monster

When i got jabs for a summer camp I worked at I had to pay (got the jabs at uni in Nottingham), however my parents' PCT (not sure which one but they live in Wokingham) take the view that it is better to prevent in the first place rather than deal with the consequences and so when my Dad had a business trip to India he got them for free. (we did have a debate that probably his company should have paid for them to ease the burden on the NHS but thats another story...)

It is up to PCTs what they allocate their budget to, just like any other medical treatment these days. It isn't a nationwide thing but that doesn't mean your MP can't help.

kittycatface

It's definitely a postcode lottery - I had to pay £80 to get a course of Hep B jabs at my local surgery in Cambridgshire, but other university friends have had them for free where they live. When my injections renewed I just went to the clinic at uni where they were free. Whatever happens don't go to a MASTA travel clinic for jabs though - they charge even more than NHS. Good luck all travellers - and well done for protecting yourselves against all the nasty bugs out there!

1jim

If she was starting an NHS course at uni she would be offered a hep b jab by occupational health when she starts the course.....it is very unlikly she will be exposed to anything risky in the first few weeks/mths as most of this time will be spent in the classroom, occupational health will not immunise her before she starts the course as she is not currently a student and no one has contracted them to provide this treatment
Gps are not funded to provide occupational treatments so most will not provide this as a preventative immunisation without charging, this is the same with a lot of the travel immunisations (some do because they are nice :-) ) The debate about hep b and sexual health is entirly different as this injection is given for entirly different reasons. I suspect had you waited your daughter would have been offered the vaccination free of charge on commencing uni....remember they deal with this for many people every year