‘Challenging workload’ means GPs declining to sign up to Covid vaccine rollout scheme

It has been reported that some GP practices in England have elected not to join the NHS’s coronavirus vaccination programme, citing difficulties with heavy workloads.

GP-led sites will begin vaccinations next week after hospital sites started rolling out the Pfizer/BioNTech injections earlier this week, but many practices have cited staff shortages, potential cuts to other services, and already-heavy workloads as reasons for declining to join.

It has been reported that approximately 100,000 patients of the over 60 million registered at GP practices would be unable to get a vaccine from their GP as a result.

Chairman of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Martin Marshall, said “It is going to be an enormous challenge given the workload and workforce challenges GPs and our teams are currently working under, delivering the expanded flu vaccination programme, as well as the vital services our patients rely on us for – and the significant logistical issues associated with delivering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at community level.

“Given these challenges, we understand why some practices have felt like they cannot sign up, but there has been an excellent response from the large number of practices able and wanting to be involved.”

A spokesperson for the NHS said “As set out and supported by the BMA, general practices will deliver the vaccine from nominated sites within primary care networks, where it is safe and practical to do so. There has been a fantastic response from GPs across England signing up to do so.

“Given the well-known logistical challenges of delivering this particular vaccines, GPs like others across the NHS are now responding rapidly to make arrangements for this to happen.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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