Frustrated by all the bureaucracy for jabs

AT last my letter arrived yesterday (Saturday) for my Covid vaccination and in it, it gave me details how to make an appointment.

I eagerly rang their number and after numerous attempts gave up as the line in the end went dead on me at every attempt.

On Sunday morning I decided to try online and that was simple. Then the final click and up comes the appointment vaccination centre... at Millennium Point, Birmingham – only a distance of 88 miles away as the crows fly and in reality about 110 miles by road.

I pulled the plug on this and decided to try the telephone again. Success – after 15 minutes I spoke to a lady and she also offered me Birmingham.

I said as my wife is a year older than me could I book an appointment for the two of us, she said I could but not until her letter has arrived.

This, when you are in your 80s, is a bit much. The NHS should telephone us direct and make the appointment for us and simply give us a time and date. After all, we have nothing else to do so we could make any time they deem fit to give us.

I will try again tomorrow and go through all the frustration yet again. All us old people want is to be vaccinated and bureaucracy seems to be the order of the day.

On Monday a ‘super vaccination’ centre opens at the Bristol City Ground – if I can get in there it’s only six miles away. Keep hoping.

Yours in total frustration,

Roger F Hill Chew Stoke, Somerset