GPS forced to pay for flu jabs as surgeries suffer shortages

GPS HAVE reported being forced to pay for their own flu jabs after complaining of “massive” stock shortages at surgeries.

Frontline NHS staff are offered the vaccine free of charge each year along with those aged 65 and above and people deemed to be at risk.

Alongside pharmacies and midwifery services, GPS offer the jab but some have found they do not have enough stock to vaccinate staff.

Dr James Betteridge-sorby, a GP in South Derbyshire, said that he needed to book a private jab “for the first time in 18 years” because his practice “has not received enough stock” to meet staff needs.

Dr Renée Hoenderkamp, a GP in north London, said her practice was “massively short” of supplies.

Their complaints come a week after the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) wrote to Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, to express concerns about supply and demand.

The Government pledged that this year’ s winter flu vaccination programme would be the biggest in British history, with over-50s also listed among those eligible.

However, officials warned the practical limitations of distributing such a vaccine would entail a staged roll-out.

It is understood that there is no national shortage of flu vaccines, but some practices could be out of stock temporarily because their supplies were initially ordered in line with the demand in 2019.

Yesterday, the Government announced that it had secured more vaccines and had issued guidance to GPS on how to order them once their stocks had run out.

Dr Raj Patel, NHS deputy national medical director of primary care, said: “Front-line NHS staff are working harder than ever to prepare for winter and have seen a significant increase in demand for the flu vaccination, so access to additional supply will be very well received by GPS and patients alike.

“GPS and pharmacies will continue to offer regular, timely flu vaccines to eligible groups, making particular efforts to prioritise the most vulnerable.”