GPs have expressed frustration at not being prioritised for Covid-19 vaccination, Pulse reports.
GPs in Surrey, Nottinghamshire and Cardiff were among those told they could not yet book a Covid-19 vaccine appointment despite it being freely offered to hospital staff.
In response to complaints about CCGs taking differing approaches on vaccination of primary care staff, NHS England director of primary care Dr Nikki Kanani said on Twitter: ‘Primary care staff absolutely can and should be vaccinated according to risk assessment.’
The BMA has written to Sir Simon Stevens, NHS England’s chief exec, to highlight that there appears to be no systematic approach to delivering the vaccine to doctors.
At NASGP, members in Scotland report having had the vaccine from the health board via occupational health.
NASGP locum members in England have had varying success, given that PCNs have taken different approaches to delivering the vaccine to healthcare workers:
- One GP was offered the vaccine by the practice they locum in as well as the out-of-hours (OOH) service they work for. Some LMCs are advising GP locums to pursue this avenue.
- In Hampshire, GPs say they were advised to contact the surgery they are registered at to ensure they are coded as a healthcare worker on their records.
- One member reports that in Leeds, the LMC invited locums for vaccination via the local locum WhatsApp group.
- A member in Surrey reports that GPs have been encouraged to register online for the local service.
- GP locums in Manchester reported on a scheme whereby locums can sign up to be on stand-by for did-not-attend (DNA) appointments.