Vaccination Advice

NPilks

Hi All,

This if my first time on the forum, so apologies if I am in the wrong place.

I was hoping for a bit of advice re my honeymoon that is coming up in August.
A year ago we booked for the pair of us and our two children to go to Mexico for our honeymoon/familymoon.
After booking, I contact the GP who advised on the vaccinations required and told me to come back around this time and they will be provided on the NHS and the only charge will be a prescription charge.
Now the time has come for us all to receive our vaccinations. I telephoned the GP and was advised that the nurse is on long term sick after an operation. They are directing all of their travel vaccinations to another surgery. I called the surgery, turns out that they are private and the total cost is £330!

Obviously, because I was assured that the vaccinations were covered by the NHS for us, I haven't saved the money to cover the private vaccinations!

Does anyone know where I stand with this? Am I able to get them done somewhere else on the NHS?

I am writing a letter of inquiry to the surgery, and potentially a complaint, to see why they do not have a nurse in to cover, but that will take time.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

814man

Not all vaccinations are free:
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1071.aspx?CategoryID=67

The NHS guidance is for these:
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/north-america/mexico.aspx#immunisations

NPilks

Hi 814man.
Thanks for the reply.
I'm aware that not all are free but the ones that I need are given on the NHS. Its only because my GP hasn't got a temporary replacement for their ill member of staff that I can't have it.

Dragonqueen

Due to the situation being a special one, perhaps the Receptionist could call another local Practise and arrange for you to have them there under the NHS - however, if not, then why can't the GP give you the vaccinations??? The nurse who is away will not be the only person trained to give them - so push at your own surgery for the GP to do it as there is nobody else.

fairy_lights

What vaccinations have they advised you to get, and are you sure they're necessary? I went to Mexico earlier this year and didn't get any.

NPilks

Dragonqueen, you would think so, wouldn't you? The receptionist was most unhelpful. She stated that they offer the vaccinations as a sort of 'bonus' and don't have to do them. Which is true, but seeing as my GP surgery does offer them, bonus or not, it is unfair that I cannot now have them. She told me to go private or use google! Charming.

Fairy Lights- They have advised that I get Hep A, Typhoid and Tetanus. The kids only need Typhoid as all of their other imm's are up to date.

PompeyPete

NPilks wrote: »

A year ago we booked for the pair of us and our two children to go to Mexico for our honeymoon/familymoon.
After booking, I contact the GP who advised on the vaccinations required and told me to come back around this time and they will be provided on the NHS and the only charge will be a prescription charge.

I don't understand the bit above in bold. If the vaccinations you needed are UK standards, then you shouldn't have been told to wait until closer to your holiday. You should have been booked in there and then.

NPilks

PompeyPete wrote: »

I don't understand the bit above in bold. If the vaccinations you needed are UK standards, then you shouldn't have been told to wait until closer to your holiday. You should have been booked in there and then.

No idea why. They just told us to come back to them nearer the date of the holiday. Maybe they were really busy at that time or low on vaccines.

tomtontom

Dragonqueen wrote: »

Due to the situation being a special one, perhaps the Receptionist could call another local Practise and arrange for you to have them there under the NHS - however, if not, then why can't the GP give you the vaccinations??? The nurse who is away will not be the only person trained to give them - so push at your own surgery for the GP to do it as there is nobody else.

Unless the practice is part of a larger group they (the practice) will not be able to arrange the injections at another practice. They are separate businesses (practices are privately run), it would be like Boots asking Superdrug for a favour.

Perhaps the GP cannot do them because they are too busy dealing with sick people? They may be willing to do so outside NHS hours, but that would normally be chargeable.

Voyager2002

NPilks wrote: »

Hi All,

T

I am writing a letter of inquiry to the surgery, and potentially a complaint, to see why they do not have a nurse in to cover, but that will take time.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I would not make it anything remotely like a complaint... see if you can make contact with your usual GP and ask for a solution.

Otherwise, it might be possible for all of you to register with a different practice that does offer this service on the NHS.

Finally, you might consider whether these vaccinations are actually necessary: explore the Health branch of the Thorn Tree forum on the Lonely Planet website for this. My own experience suggests that whether or not the vaccinations you list are necessary will depend on where you expect to eat (and the hygiene standards they maintain) and of course on your own state of health. (Perhaps your GP can discuss this with you, whether or not they can administer the vaccinations.)

richardw

Seriously consider moving to a GP who can organise and offer a service.