GP refusing travel vaccines

kdwardse

As far as my understanding goes, there are several vaccinations that are available through the NHS. 3 of these being the ones i need (Hep A, Typhoid, BTP).

My GP surgery is refusing to do them. They say they haven't got the certificates to do the vaccinations, and that I should go to a (private) travel clinic. I don't understand how this is possible? are they are refusing me treatment that should be supplied by the NHS, just because they don't want to?

Anyone have any advice what I can do? I'd prefer to avoid the £170 expense of getting it done privately, but the surgery is just flat out refusing.

Ayr_Rage

Please have a read of this topic.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6547501/doctor-and-overseas-vaccinations?utm_source=community-search&utm_medium=organic-search&utm_term=vaccinations

Flugelhorn

Wave this from the CQC at them - they don't need to give you a cert, just print a list of imms from the care record https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-107-pretravel-health-services

Having said that - if they haven't got the up to date V&I certs then they are probably best not to do them - maybe there hasn't been any training locally? I was a GP and never did the travel vacc training - but our nurses did 

kdwardse

@Flugelhorn

Thanks for your input, I did quote the CQC, BMA and NHS advice to them, but their answer remained the same.

Funnily enough, they did say they do "standard" vaccinations, so I assume they must have some V&I certification. My partners practice in the same area did hers the same day with no fuss, and only input needed from the GP was approval of prescription for the vaccines themselves, the nurse did the administration.

Flugelhorn

does sound a bit odd doesn't it? there used to be assorted courses - baby & childhood imms, general V&I, travel vaccs etc  - quite a bit of overlap as you can imagine

not sure what to suggest 

Mark_d

I had to pay to get my travel vaccines at Boots.  I don't think it was anything near as much as £170

p00hsticks

Mark_d said:

I had to pay to get my travel vaccines at Boots.  I don't think it was anything near as much as £170

Boots price list is here;
Travel Vaccinations & Health Advice Service - Boots

£63 for Hep A
£38 for Typhoid 
£38 for Diptheria, Tetanus & Polio (assuming this is what the OP means by BTP)
plus a £20 clinic fee)

So £159 in total  

Hoenir

Thought GP's were working to rule and cutting the number of daily appointments. In doing so may well have decided providing travel vaccinations was non essential. Resources being used for more productive purposes. 

katejo

kdwardse said:

As far as my understanding goes, there are several vaccinations that are available through the NHS. 3 of these being the ones i need (Hep A, Typhoid, BTP).

My GP surgery is refusing to do them. They say they haven't got the certificates to do the vaccinations, and that I should go to a (private) travel clinic. I don't understand how this is possible? are they are refusing me treatment that should be supplied by the NHS, just because they don't want to?

Anyone have any advice what I can do? I'd prefer to avoid the £170 expense of getting it done privately, but the surgery is just flat out refusing.

My surgery has said this for several years. Even when I last got one from them (well before Covid lockdown) , it only lasted 1 year whereas a private travel vaccination centre gave me one which was valid for 3 years. 

PennysIntoPounds

Probably best to register at your partners practice in the same area and get them done there. It's frustrating, but if the Dr's surgery doesn't have the certificates to do them, it can't do them. To the best of my knowledge, it's irrelevant if they do standard vaccinations as any medical staff member administering a vaccination needs to have done training on each specific vaccination and be signed off on that, so if the NHS nurses at your current practice aren't legally able to do travel vaccinations then they just can't, it's not as simple as ordering one and sticking it in your arm I'm afraid! I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip 🙂

marcia_

 My GP did my travel vaccinations but they wrote me a private prescription for the vaccine and I had to pay full price at the chemist. The practice nurse then administered them.