Problem with NHS policy - again!

[Barneyboy48]

Off on holiday soon.

At my last injection appointment I told the practice nurse that my next scheduled jab would be 4 days into my holiday and there was no way I could make the day. She said quite clearly that it wouldn't be a problem as I would be OK to have it the day before I fly.

So I rang this morning so that I could organise for the 13 May.

Massive hurdles thrown in front of me again by the rottweilers on the front desk. They say NHS policy prevents me from having the injection until 17 May when I will be in Spain. No flexibility.

So I have to organise to have the jab when I return.

I am on 6 weekly intervals. After 6 weeks I start feeling tired and exhausted. I am not looking forward to my holiday now because I am fearing I will be ill and it's all down to my GP surgery again.

What the hell as this got to do with "do no harm"?

I feel completely lost.

[Nackapan]

Contact your G.p . They can 'authorise it ! Nurses cannot seem to do it a day early.

only 'as prescribed '

But can decide to challenge the prescription if not 2-3 monthly.

Even if on your notes .??

HCAs in my experience just do what the G.p has prescribed and ask G.p to authorise if a BH ect

[wedgewood]

If they won’t budge , you will have to find a “ Beauty Salom “ that give B12 injections . Cost about £30. Google to find out near you .

[Gaudygoat]

the other option, if you can’t get the injection before you go, take the ampule with you and ask in Spain. I don’t know what the doctors are like in Spain but my friend ( before self injecting) was surprised to find some European countries are far more relaxed about B12 and she was able to just go in and get an injection.

[Fisylvia in reply to Gaudygoat]

If you have your vial of B12 you can get an appointment at a Polyclinica and the nurse will administer it for you ( around €6)...only drawback will be the language barrier (depends where in Spain you are going)but you could always use Google translate

[EJK12]

Firstly, the GP will be able to authorise this, having it 4 days early is no harm.

If they won't, you can also try VitaJab. They provide B12 infections too via pharmacies. You just need to complete a form. They cost £30 and are the same as the B12 injection you get from the GP.

[DevH in reply to EJK12]

Surgeries are resistant to giving earlier, they don’t say anything if later but it’s a hurdle to get it earlier, not logical but do persist!

[Alilev]

I had exactly the same experience - complete refusal to give the injection early. I ended up paying 80 euros for a private doctor to give me an injection in Spain last year as I felt so unwell because of not having my B12. I’ve started self injecting now as I can’t put up with the symptoms or waste time arguing my case. Apparently you can carry everything you need to inject on flights without a problem.

[Oneash in reply to Alilev]

I've just been abroad. I put everything in my suitcase in the hold. No problems. I've had a great trip, which I couldn't have enjoyed without my every other day dose.

[Barneyboy48 in reply to Alilev]

Got a phone call today from the GP.

After my complaint and demand to see the practice manager, the GP has been handed my case and he has stated that he has no problem with me having my injection several days early in time for me to go on holiday.

So, what was that all about then? Some jumped up, power mad desk jockey calling the shots again!

I am sick and tired of being told that they are following policy of adhering to NHS guidelines. and then hiding behind it.

The operative word is "guidelines". Guidelines are there broadly to advise but are not mandatory rules. At the end of it all, commonsense and the welfare of the patient are and should be paramount and take precedence over whatever rules or policy they invent.

If the surgery had a coherent structure this may not have happened and no one need have gotten stressed out or upset.

They are an absolute disgrace.

[Nackapan in reply to Barneyboy48]

As i thought .The g.p would woukd 'authorise it '

Nurses are not able to give it 'early

Glad it's sorted 👍

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Oh Barneyboy, wouldn't it be great to be able to come home from holiday and tell those rottweilers that, in Spain, they accept that you know best about when another injection is necessary ?

[Find out if that is in fact the case first ! Perhaps ask directly in a new post here ?]

Or better still, try writing to your GP - this could be the best way to body-swerve the guard-dogs - asking for an early injection on this one occasion. As Nackapan has said, it is possible for a GP to authorise this, and little to do with receptionists / nurses.

It has nothing to do, either, with "first, do no harm" - and much to do with the trivialising of a life-changing condition that is poorly understood (at least in our country).

Wishing you a happy and healthy symptom-free holiday.

[Barneyboy48 in reply to Cherylclaire]

Letter in the Daily mail this morning. All the damned surgeries are the same apparently.

I've sent a letter in myself in reference to it.

There needs to be some sort of national regulation regarding the way GP surgeries are run and the way non-clinical staff are given carte blanche over making clinical decisions on behalf of the qualified staff.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Barneyboy48]

Absolutely.