Elderly people with the right to NHS flu jabs are being forced to pay for them because of shortages, it emerged last night.

There have been problems with vaccination supplies across Norfolk and Suffolk after a surge in demand because of bird flu fears.

A sizeable minority of surgeries have already run out, or are expecting to run out - and some are telling patients to go to other surgeries and pay to have them done.

The move has been criticised by groups representing the elderly. Rex Humphrey, director of Age Concern Norfolk, said: "We would hope that everyone entitled to a flu jab would be getting one. For people to pay for it doesn't feel appropriate."

Reepham Surgery has completely run out of vaccine after a surge in demand, and has told patients the only certain way to get it is to pay for it elsewhere.
It is suggesting Costessey Medical Practice, which has already given 500 flu jabs to people registered with other practices, charging £20 a time. 

Reepham GP Barbara Kelly said: "We have given the patients the information; it is then up to them what they do about it.

"Some of our elderly patients are quite upset about it. It seems morally wrong or ethically wrong. Our patients are saying, 'Why should I have to pay for it when we should be getting it on the NHS?' - and I agree with them."
The practice is still trying to get more supplies after running out during packed flu clinics.

Jack Leggett, 70, from Bawdeswell, was furious when he learned that he and his wife had no choice but to pay for the jab or go without.
Since he and his 73-year-old wife suffer from health problems, they are reluctantly preparing to pay for it. 

He has no complaints about Reepham surgery, which he says is "wonderful". But he is angry elderly people are being charged for the jab that they are entitled to on the NHS.

"OAPs on a basic pension have got to give up eating for a week to pay for the jab. I have got the money but the average pensioner couple draw £120 to £130 a week, and £30 to £40 is a lot of money."

Helen Adcock, director of public health at Broadland Primary Care Trust (PCT) said that the Broadland practices, including Reepham, had collectively applied for 1400 doses from Department of Health contingency stocks and were awaiting deliveries. 

Jan Hardinge, practice manager at Costessey Medical Practice, said that they provided jabs to those who could not get them from their own surgeries. 
"If they aren't our patients we charge £20. We aren't allowed to charge our own patients. We have done about 500 so far."

She said the practice had ordered twice as much stock as last year. 
A spokesman for Central Norfolk PCT said "Practices who run private travel clinic services may also offer flu vaccinations on a paid-for basis at this time of year and do not use NHS supplied stocks for this purpose.

"People in at-risk groups should not be being referred to private clinics or paying for their vaccinations. Our advice to patients who have not yet received their vaccination, is to keep in close contact with your practice and make sure you join the waiting list."