""Computer says no". *Few* great staff. Best…"

A few general words:

It’s a joke that parking at both Hook and Hartley isn’t free. I understand the NHS is underfunded, paying for parking—considering that visits are often necessary—is unfair.

The reception is slow but does at least try to be friendly. Please get rid of the hold music on calls, though. Getting prescriptions or renewals is a headache and requires multiple follow-up calls or visits, even for something as simple as hayfever pills.

There was a GP there in the past who was intimidating and unhelpful. She now seems to have left the practice. Because of her behaviour, I requested to switch to a new doctor, who is absolutely brilliant.

Now, the specifics:

I got a text from the practice in DEC 2020 reading: “According to our records, your MenACWY vaccination is showing as outstanding… Your GP would like you to telephone [the] surgery to book an appointment...” I received the same text in JAN and FEB 2021, but was too busy to call. You’ll note that nowhere does it say this is an urgent matter.

Fast forward to June: I tried get my COVID vaccination on the gov.uk website, which told me that I couldn’t, because my vaccine records hadn’t been updated by my surgery. Naturally, I called the practice. The receptionist had no idea what was going on with my records (and notably didn’t offer to check), but managed to book my outstanding MenACWY vaccine, and the COVID jab for a later date.

Fast forward 2 weeks: I arrive at the practice for my MenACWY vaccine after driving 45 minutes from my non-local address. I'm called in for my appointment with a nurse. After she gets my patient information on the computer, I’m simply told that I’m ‘too late’.’ Too late for what?’ I wonder. I was 5 minutes early...

Apparently, I’m past the ‘age threshold’. I was essentially told that the vaccine would still be effective on me, but that I can’t have it because my age isn’t in the guidelines … despite only being 3 months ‘past it’. I showed the nurse the texts, which—as you saw—mention nothing about any of this. I also mentioned the long drive. I was met with the equivalent of a shrug, and told that I should have booked sooner, and registered somewhere closer to my other address. Zero sympathy or care. Didn’t the nurse think that I would have made this a priority had I known the urgency? Does she think that I enjoy driving for no reason? There was no thought to consult any other medical staff. After this attitude, I simply left knowing I’m at a higher risk of meningitis. What a colossal waste of everyone’s time.

I strongly believe that nurses and other medical staff aren’t paid enough, but it doesn’t mean they should behave as if people are a stupid burden. The nurse I saw seems to embody this attitude, or perhaps she was having a bad day. Either way, it’s not a good way to treat a patient.