Reflections on Flu Clinics
It’s Saturday 17th September 2022, once again, a year has passed and it was my turn for my annual flu jab in my right upper arm.. However, this year, there was a bonus COVID booster for my left arm. At the surgery entrance it looked like one or two patients had been invited every minute. In a small town like ours it appeared that the whole town was queuing with many familiar faces and much chatter.
Jackets and jumpers off!
It had been a cold night so jumpers and jackets were the order of the day. The reception had moved into the waiting room as masks were donned on entry. Probably the waiting room had not seen so many people for two if not three years. The Practice Staff had printed personal forms ready to hand to each patient with questions that would be asked by the administering nurse. Slowly for my wife and I the line crept towards the consulting room corridor. There was a flurry of activity as two nurses rushed back to the mid waiting room reception desk. A patient might have had an allergic reaction.
Raffle tickets and a Prize
Moving again toward the consulting room corridor I remember at my surgery before I retired as a Practice Manager, the Saturday Clinics. Our computer systems were not quite so efficient and responsive, but woe be tied, a nurse or doctor who failed to record a flu given. Woe be tied the nurse who gave a flu tab twice. We appointed a Flu Tsar who was responsible for matching the number of vials used against the number of patients who attended. She also made sure that wasted vials were taken into account. Raffles tickets were given to patients as they arrived to book in with the only prize being a jab. Many asked what the prize was and when was the draw.
COVID Boosters given
Back in the queue, we can now see the long consulting room corridor and the fire door open at the far end to escape. Each room seems to be in use as patients usually in couples scurry from one room to another. We are called into the first room on the left. Two nursing staff greet us. The cold weather gear is removed. The question forms are handed over and one nurse reads them through and ticks the appropriate yes or no. We both sit down for our COVID Booster, me in my right upper arm. It was a long needle. No little card given this time to confirm administration of the booster.
Flu Jab Given
The place is still bustling with patients and staff. After the first jab was given we are herded to another room along the corridor also on the left for the annual flu jab. No questions this time, other than which arm, standing up this time presenting the other upper arm for the needle. It’s all over now and the battle ahead is to extract the car from a parking bay where there is little room to manoeuvre.
Praise and Duty
It is striking that each year thousands of GP Practices, whether small or large pull out all the stops, for a few days each autumn to process large numbers of patients in the at risk groups to help prevent the negative effect of a flu epidemic and now we have the added dimension of probably annual COVID Boosters. Practice Staff work very hard, often faced with tricky encounters from patients who expect rather than be polite and grateful. The duty to provide treatment and care continues unabated as should the respect for our doctors, nurses and practice staff.
Thank You.
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