Further practices are due to begin COVID-19 vaccination today – although dozens of patients were disappointed yesterday when vaccines failed to arrive. At least 200 appointments were lost in Southport, Merseyside, in Gillingham, Kent, and Kingston, Surrey, because of non-arrival, it was reported. NHS England claimed delays were because practices had not completed safety checks…

Practice-based COVID-19 vaccination will begin today, NHS officials have stated, in spite of warnings of major logistical challenges. Some medical spokespeople have warned that many practices are reluctant to take part in the programme amid concerns about premises and staffing. NHS England promised that “hundreds” of practice vaccine centres will open across England this week,…

Missed appointments in general practice should be regarded as an “inevitable outcome” of the appointment system, rather than a patient problem, according to a new evaluation published. A range of techniques for non-attendances are suggested by the authors. The conclusion comes following analysis of a quality improvement (QI) programme involving 25 GP practices in the…

After almost a year of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan was the first patient in the world to receive the PfizerBioNTech vaccination at 6:31am this morning, only days after its clinical approval. Delivered in the local hospital in Coventry by NHS nurse May Parsons, this landmark moment signals the start of the…

The first hospital COVID-19 vaccinations could be under way tomorrow while practices could begin programmes next week, according to government sources. NHS England said a small number of primary care networks will begin community vaccination next week. Hospitals will focus on elderly hospital patients and care home staff while practices will be expected to focus…

An improved notification system will be in place this year, alerting practices to which patients have received the flu vaccination, it has been announced. The service, created by NHS Digital, sends the information electronically from pharmacies to GP practices. NHS Digital reported on Monday (30 December) that it has been expanded ahead of this winter,…

The government is facing a growing backlash from GPs over its COVID vaccination plans – with demands for improved compensation, it has been claimed. One GP group says that practices may be reluctant to become involved if they are uncertain that the high costs of setting up vaccine centres will be repaid. Meanwhile local medical…