"Receptionists are not qualified doctors!"

The surgery are refusing to provide my son with a potentially life saving flu jab in the Covid-19 pandemic, blaming it on lack of funding and Government Policy.

We were initially told be the Receptionist my son was eligible for the nasal spray (after having provided his date of birth), only to have to wait in a large queue on flu clinic day and then be told no he wasn't and to go away as his birth date missed the criteria by just over a month (had to be two at 31 August).

My son is two years old and it is precisely this age group (and under) who are most at risk of complications resulting from flu - for example sepsis. I have begged to pay them privately but they have outright refused. I have tried phoning over 20 pharmacies, private health clinics, but their waiting lists are so long there is no chance I can get this I am informed and to go back to my GP as they have a duty of care. I've been informed that, due to my son's difficult birth, he would be considered more at risk from the flu.

Appalled at how my son's well-being seems so unimportant to Wye Valley. My friend's son was born a day later (has no health issues) and her surgery have allowed her to pay, due to the deadly risk of having the flu and Covid-19 together (her son has no health problems).

Whilst one Receptionist is absolutely lovely and so helpful, the one I spoke to was totally incapable of dealing with my query. When she couldn't cope with my asking to speak to a doctor as I was unhappy, she excused me of being abusive, when in fact I was far from that and have independent witnesses to prove it. She just wanted to get rid of me.

Terrible experience, especially considering this was regarding the health and well-being of a young child. Think seriously before joining this surgery if you have young children - the Receptionists seem to think they are qualified to choose who gets treatment/who is considered at risk, when it should be referred to the Doctors to decide.