Forum Topic

PutneyMead Surgery 26th September:  Flu Injections

If you are a patient at the above surgery you might prefer to visit a local pharmacy for your anti flu injection.I had not received the usual flu jab information. I called the surgery 10 days ago to ask for details. I almost had my head bitten off when I asked about flu jabs I was told quite rudely it was 26th September at 8am. Usually staff at the surgery are always pleasant and most helpful.This morning I walked to the surgery. As I turned into Charlwood Road at 7.45 I saw a large crowd of people and realised they were all waiting to visit the surgery. It was cold and very windy. The queue straggled along Charlwood Road, up the Upper Richmond Road, through the surgery and out into the very cold car park. It moved extraordinarily slowly because there were only two doctors giving injections. I eventually left the car park after queuing and waiting more than an hour and twenty minutes. I did think PutneyMead might have made more satisfactory arrangements for their elderly patients. I was lucky as the gentleman ahead of me in the queue was quite chatty and entertaining.But do be warned - get your flu jab elsewhere!

Marie Byrom ● 2013d28 Comments

For those of you who react badly to the flu vacine just think how badly you'd have the flu! Putney mead brilliant in their info to me in offering an appointment of multiple dates.  It so happened none were convenient but booked an appointment with Boots.. no problems at all.

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2006d

I had exactly the same experience as you, Hugh. I arrived and was seen early for my scheduled flu jab. As far as I could tell the patient before me failed to turn up, which rather wasted a much-needed place for somebody else.

Leslie McDonnell ● 2006d

Katrina and Lucille, thanks for your replies.  Please post how you get on over the coming months and I will do the same. I can’t remember when I last had flu.  I feel it puts a bit of a jinx on it talking about not having it, but have been cold/flu free for some time.  When I had the flu vaccine because of being a carer, I was so poorly with flu later on that I begged my husband to come home early from work to look after our young children. I don’t let my children have the flu vaccine, but they have had all other vaccinations. Anyway, it is very interesting.

Martine Guy ● 2007d

I'm the same Martine. Bad reaction to the flu jab so no thanks.

Lucille Grant ● 2007d

For Martine. I've refused flu injections for years because my eye condition is linked to an overactive immune response and I can't risk further inflammation.This year I've decided to have it as I don't think COVID symptoms will be taken seriously without having had a flu injection. I've had pneumonia twice  in the past so I'm at risk. The flu vaccine for over 65's is as I understand it a booster to the immune response which is generally deleted in older people.I am against one size fits all medical decisions but under present COVID circumstances the few of us who respond differently seem to be forgotten about.I have a flu injection booked at Boots next week. I'll let you know what happens!

Katrina Black ● 2007d

Thanks for the reply, Sue.  I wondered if I was the only refuser.  

Martine Guy ● 2007d

Most of you have been unlucky. I had a text from Putneymead last week offering me the chance of pre-booking a set date and time. I arrived at 12:15 yesterday for a 12:30 appointment and was seen immediately. I had a call this morning reminding me some blood tests are due and was given an appointment for a few days hence. No complaints from me.

Hugh Walton ● 2007d

have never had the flu jab Martine and don't intend to despite being offered it every year.  I do know several people who've had a bad reaction, my Aunt was one and she said it was worse than any respiratory infection she had ever had in her life.  The vaccine is never 100% current anyway because it is composed on the previous year's data and the components updated as to how the virus may have mutated.  Basically an informed guess?

Sue Hammond ● 2007d

I don’t want the flu jab even though I am offered it.  Every time I have had it in the past, I get really bad flu, so I don’t want it anymore if I can help it. I am not an anti-vaxxer and have had everything else.   Very interested to know if I am the only refuser or if other people still suffer cold/flu after the having the jab.

Martine Guy ● 2007d

I had my pre-booked flu jab at Putneymead yesterday afternoon, very quick, very hygenic and very efficient. Sadly the individual scheduled before me failed to turn up costing somebody a place in the queue.

Leslie McDonnell ● 2007d

Shame the weather has turned now as it was easy with a T-shirt and jacket to bare a shoulder.Here's a piece of info from another surgery:"Each year, surgeries are required to order their flu vaccinations 10-12 months in advance of the next flu season. As a surgery we pay for every individual vaccine at our own risk, meaning if we do not use the vaccine, we cannot reclaim the costs. For this flu season, we ordered our vaccinations in October 2019. At this point, we had little idea that a Pandemic would be upon us in February 2020."

Philippa Bond ● 2009d

My computer is on a go slow so not read all the responses. I gather putneymead gave 436 flu jabs in three hours. Think they may have been surprised by the queue, and will, no doubt, be more prepared next week, but those are impressive numbers!

Victoria Diamond ● 2012d

The Heathbridge are asking patients to make appointments, apparently they will have a tent outside the surgery and ask patients to wear loose clothing, so they can speed the process up.

Bunny Payne ● 2012d

I've had a couple of SMSs regarding flue jabs. I do generally have flu vaccinations - it's possibly in the back of my mind that my paternal grandparents died of flu in 1918 leaving my father and an aunt as orphans (and a younger sister of theirs also died). However, I'm not impressed with being sent a link to enter loads of personal details when a senior person from Public Health England has admitted there's no way to easily verify the authenticity of such SMSs or emails. (He didn't have much option as he was talking to an online conference of information security specialists who all have the same problem!)

Michael Ixer ● 2012d

The trouble is the one time that they don't send you one will be the time that you have decided to have one despite your assertions to the contrary right now.  Be happy they've remembered you!  I think most people appreciate the reminder.Perhaps they would prefer the pharmacies to do them which they can and you don't have to pay if you are eligible for a free one.  On the other hand they won't want to be left with vaccines they can't use.  We used to find it easier to go to the pharmacies when and where there was no queue.

Philippa Bond ● 2012d

SMS at Putneymead doesn't seem to work that well ime.  Over the past few weeks I have received two texts inviting me to go in for the flu jab and on both occasions I replied to decline.  I have never had a flu jab and do not want to have them and have spoken to the surgery about this in the past so it should be recorded on my records.  Multiple texts urging me to have one is a pointless exercise.

Sue Hammond ● 2012d

I don't know that that is the answer.  Or perhaps they could do a couple of days or mornings/afternoons and ask patients to book - that is much easier now they can message so many.Something has to be better than such a queue and such a wait.

Philippa Bond ● 2012d

This is an excellent idea Philippa

Marie Byrom ● 2013d

Someone put a video on twitter:https://twitter.com/i/status/1309807335255220225

Ed Robinson ● 2013d

Would setting up some block bookings space out their over 65s and vulnerable patients so there wasn't such a wait?

Philippa Bond ● 2013d

I haf my jab at Putneymead this morning.It  was a "walk-in" service and I was through in just over an hour. The staff were hardworking, professional and efficient,as usual. Putneymead also offers the opportunity to book weekday appointments. "Walk-ins" are by their nature unpredictable and the turnout this year was much greater than previous years. I for one am very grateful to all at Putneymead for their sterling efforts.

Timothy Horgan ● 2013d

I had my flu jab at Boots on Tuesday. I had booked the appointment last week. I am over 65.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2013d

Oh sorry Jane i misunderstood, i am glad that they are free for the over 65sx

Emma Blackwell ● 2013d

Thanks Emma. I just wanted to point out that the pharmacy is giving free flu jabs to the over 65s.

Jane Carter ● 2013d

Sounds like they could have done with an appointment system or if they did a slightly better one..I understood that the GPs order the number of jabs that they know they need for their elderly and vulnerable patients and  that they don't want to have costly jabs left over unused.A lot of their patients must by now have mobile phones and will be able to receive information through a messaging system.  You need to remember to have the right clothing on so that you can strip enough easily and quickly and still be decent especially if you are in a queue outside.  (Not something I'm good at remembering at the best of times!)

Philippa Bond ● 2013d

NoBut no chemist is giving tests to the under 65 even if they are paying and high risksMy point was that to relieve pressure on GPs maybe pharmacists should allow the under 65 to pay and the GPs to deal only with the elderly

Emma Blackwell ● 2013d

Putney Pharmacy last week was giving NHS flu jabs to the over 65s. Has that really changed?

Jane Carter ● 2013d

I’ve just come from there and I think in total I queued for just under an hourAnd I was fine with thatHowever, I do agree that the elderly should have appointments and be prioritised Annoyingly the pharmacists are only giving private flu jabs to people over 65 which is ridiculous, the over 65 should go to the GP and people my age should be happy to part the £12 and go to the pharmacist if they are unable to queue Still, this is all a new process and I really don’t think we should moan about our GP surgery They are doing their best in difficult circumstances

Emma Blackwell ● 2013d