NHS

Good morning fellow downhillers. I hope you are all keeping safe. Sorry if ranting but yesterday was a Trump day. Our lass received a message from NHSgov saying I should ring this dedicated phone number, which incidentally was only available between 9am and 12 mid day UK time, on Tuesday and Wednesday only to book book my vaccine jab appointment.

We received the message at just after 11am. So I immediately rang it and it was engaged.

I tried 183 times on redial but it was still constantly engaged. The voicemail answer machine message said it was only available to call on Monday and Tuesday between those set hours. How come our lass did not receive the message till nearly midway through Tuesday then.

The message received also advised it was Tuesday and Wednesday to book appointment, there was no mention of Monday. Further comments stated it was actually contactable during the Tuesday afternoon between 3pm and 6pm to arrange a vaccine appointment.

Armed with this further information I started ringing again yesterday afternoon. I started ringing at 2pm and after 10 minutes am told I am in a queue but they are excessively busy, so I hold on.

I eventually get through at just after 3pm and explained about the message received. The person on the other end of the line doesn’t even ask for my name he just says are you over 70, to which I reply NO. He then says I cannot have it. I explained everything and his supervisor came and explained the rules changed just after lunch yesterday and so I could not receive the vaccine jab at this time.

I have just tried ringing the line again this morning (Wednesday) but it is now closed, (so much for the dates). To say this is a keystone cops episode is complimenting it.

I hope no one else is going through this form of torture in trying to get their vaccine appointment. Keep me posted please how you are all feeling.