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If you have a basic mobile phone ( which is very common in with over 70's) you will get a text message to call your GP. They will then call you back and take basic details for your suitability of the vaccine.They can then set your appointment up for you and text you or call you with date, time and location.For this you do not need a smartphone or be online.But if you only have a landline, you must call your GP and any other vital service and stress this to them so there is a clear note recorded to ensure you are either contacted by a person via landline or get a letter.Oddly many of the letters are being sent to over 80s inviting them to book online and at a location up to 45 mins away ( not including traffic deviations or volume)Completely housebound residents are being kept completely in the dark as are their regular District Nurses and Carers.If you know a housebound non ambulatory resident ( and a great many are hemmed in by these LTNs completely unknown. Check on them and make sure that their GP knows that cannot be transported.  A wrong assumption is being made with algorithm based data that a Housebound person can be transported.This has led to some being assumed to be refusing the vaccination by not being able to respond or having not stressed being unable to leave home.I noticed on BBC Breakfast how a spokesperson ducked and dived in avoiding questions about this very situation.It would be far better to either say he did not know or that the logistical issues are not resolved.  Transporting the Pfizer Vaccine is still a huge problem. A proper explanation would be far better, even if it's not particularly positive.

Raymond Havelock ● 1162d

Well done Raymond.  I've heard of several people who have tried to offer their help in vaccinating people because they too have experience.  There seems to be rather a lot of bureaucracy in the way.The NHS had a great number of vacancies before the pandemic (something which was not a surprise to a great many people and something for which the NHS and whatever incarnation Public Health England was/in also would have been aware of.  They had to do a Risk Assessment for one.)  We have had several pandemics over the years.  This one happens to be very contagious and vicious.It takes three years to train a nurse so with a health service with a deficit of over 400,000 nurses it is obvious that they will be hard-pressed.  Those in jobs in other parts of hospitals have had to do crash courses on oxygen therapy.  It is not only nurses that they are short of.  With a normal 12 hour shift that often lasts longer and is followed by travelling home it is hard work without a pandemic.  At the beginning of this the Govt decided to try to call back in retired medical staff to make up numbers.  There are consultants working as Health Care Assistants.  Medical staff have died but they have a better idea now of what they are dealing with.  There are plenty of volunteer jobs being advertised for the NHS as well as non-volunteer ones.There are youngsters in intensive care.  Don't listen to the doubters.  This is a very stressful time for most of us not able to see and support our families.  Please stay safe and keep your distance, wear a mask, don't go out any more than you absolutely need to and don't make it any worse for those who are working so hard to help us all and to beat this virus.Sad to hear tonight that a lot of staff working in the General Wards full of Covid sufferers are NOT being provided with the better and more effective face masks.  No wonder they become ill.  This is madness.  This is what happened before because you can't be sure which patients have Covid.  They may test negative one day and test positive the next..

Philippa Bond ● 1170d