Something for the GP's that might help re: vaccinations:

I rang my local GP clinic to make an appointment for something (not Covid-related).

Their phone went straight to message bank as I waited for them to answer my call and I listened to their polite, recorded message.

1/

The message told me that:

1. They were contacting their patients via their system when they had vaccines available.

2. Patients should wait to be invited for a vaccine at the appropriate time.

3. They were not keeping a waiting list.

2/

By being organised, the clinic didn't have to answer endless calls about vaccines and availability. When they had vaccines in stock, people would be notified, and not before.

3/

All the patients have to do is wait to be called by the clinic when it's their turn to make a vaccination appointment.

4/

So, rather than scheduling people into appointments only to be disappointed if vaccines haven't arrived by the expected date, they prepared people to be ready for the call in their minds when the right time comes.

5/

When the receptionist then answered my call, she had time to book my non-vaccine related appointment without a hint of stress in her voice. I didn't feel hurried and I couldn't hear any phones ringing in the background. Good organisation helps.

6/6

Correction: I said "message bank" in my first Tweet of this thread.

I meant "on hold".

(Never Tweet when distracted.)