Flu Jab refused

Last Friday me and @raspberrytalk booked in our flu jabs which as far as we are both concerned are eligible for them.  

This is who the NHS say should be eligible for the flu jab.  

As most of you will know @raspberrytalk has ME and Fibromyalgia. 

When we went in on Tuesday 5^th November the nurse politely explained to @raspberrytalk that she had been told by the practice manager that he was not eligible for the flu jab. WTF is almost the words I said to the nurse. @raspberrytalk was bemused and asked why this was the case and she replied that he doen’t have any neurological conditions or an immune system problem!

He then had to explain to the nurse that he has ME and Fibromyalgia, which are both Neurological disorders … and we then discovered that neither of them, nor his arthritis or seizures are listed as “active” problems on his file! 

As far as me and @raspberrytalk are concerned he should be eligible for the flu jab, but the nurse said that none of that information was on his records and she then explained that  even if it was, the surgery do not recognised the fact that ME and Fibro are neurological disorders. She also said that @raspberrytalk’s latest blood tests showed that his immune system is currently normal, so he wouldn’t get the jab because of that. 

 

Well at this point I was very pissed off and so was @raspberrytalk to say the least.

Anyway I had my jab done. 

@raspberrytalk explained to the nurse that he was concerned about the overall care he could expect to receive from the GP’s at the surgery if they don’t consider ME as neurological (i.e. they think it’s all in the mind).

I am also concerned about this as @raspberrytalk’s ESA renewal is coming up very soon. As most of you will know it was a real battle for him to get any kind of benefits.

If we don’t have the support of our GP and other health professionals, what hope is there for us?

It feels like we are fighting a battle that we will never win and it’s a battle we are fighting alone ………… 

We have been invited in by the surgery to “discuss our concerns”(!) I will update you all on this.

 

Take Care of Each other

Carers Vent

 

If like @raspberrytalk you have ME or Fibro and been refused flu jab please contact me on @carersvent

 

UPDATE: 7th November 2013

 

spoke to our GP and apparently according to the records they received from our last surgery there is no record of @raspberrytalk being given a 100% confirmation that he has ME or Fibro.

 

Also the only active problem on his records is his mental health problems and nothing about his arthritis which is a active problem.

 

really not sure where we stand or what we can do any advice would be welcomed.