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Appalling vaccination experience

Posted By runningsz65

"Appalling vaccination experience"

About: Claremont Showgrounds COVID-19 Vaccination Community Clinic

(as a service user),

My experience with vaccination in Perth is appalling. I dutifully made a booking, whilst in Perth receiving other medical treatment, to have my first vaccination. Only to show up and find a queue of, I believe, around 400 people, a snaking line (of 150 counted people) and a hall after that, full of more people

I believe it was clear most of these people were walk-ins. If they weren’t then I feel that’s even worse, they had obviously, in my opinion, overbooked. There was seemingly no sense that anyone foolish enough to make an appointment would get priority. For me, it was a clear abuse of my time.

I believe the health dept expect that I (or anybody else), will wait irrespective of an appointment or not. Well not this one. To add insult to injury, I received an email 2 days later saying I had missed my appointment and encouraging me to make another. Well, no I didn’t miss my appointment. I was there. I believe it was the health dept that paid no regard to my appointment.

Why would anyone bother? 

Well yes, community health, I agree. I’ve now resorted to going to a GP and pay some $70 for what I believe I should, as a person on a pension, receive free.

In my opinion, if appointments are to be made then the health dept should honour them. Is it any wonder our vaccination rates are low!

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Responses

Response from Lara Jackson, Coordinator of Nursing, Medical Division, Royal Perth Bentley Group 2 years ago
Lara Jackson
Coordinator of Nursing, Medical Division,
Royal Perth Bentley Group

Submitted on 25/01/2022 at 12:39 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:14 PM

Dear runningsz65,

Thank you for sharing your feedback on Care Opinion. I have only recently been made aware of your feedback and ask you to please accept my sincere apologise for the long waiting times you experienced after making a booking on the Roll up for WA booking system.

I acknowledge your frustration of having to wait so long, in a long queue after making a booking for a certain time. At the time of your appointments, all the COVID-19 Community Vaccination clinics were extremely busy with a large number of walk in clients each day.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to get vaccinated and keeping WA safe.

Kind regards,

Lara Jackson

Coordinator of Nursing

Nursing Services | Child and Adolescent Health Service

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Response from Lara Jackson, Coordinator of Nursing, Medical Division, Royal Perth Bentley Group 2 years ago
Lara Jackson
Coordinator of Nursing, Medical Division,
Royal Perth Bentley Group

Submitted on 28/01/2022 at 1:12 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:59 PM

Dear runningsz65,

After further consideration of your feedback I feel it is important to also let you know that COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone, irrespective of where you receive it. As such, you should not have been charged a fee by your GP for your vaccine if the only reason for your visit was to get vaccinated. I really encourage you to speak to the practice manager about this and I would also like to refer you to the Australian Government Department of Health’s website which has more information on how you can report providers who are charging for COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/medicare-compliance/reporting-incorrect-billing-claiming-or-suspected-fraud.

Kind regards

Lara Jackson
Coordinator of Nursing
Nursing Services | Child and Adolescent Health Service

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