As the national Covid-19 vaccination scheme gathers pace, we have been working with our NHS Digital certified video and online consultation partner AccuRx to provide a text message invite system to patients when it is their turn to be vaccinated to increase our capacity for rapidly booking Covid-19 immunisations.

In order for this to work well it is important that patients respond as soon as possible. If you receive an invite and already have an appointment booked or had your jab elsewhere (e.g. Home Park mass vaccination centre), please decline the invite promptly by selecting ‘booked elsewhere’ with the reason why in free text as it can take a few days for our records to update.

In order to increase the capacity of invites, given the number of vaccination centres working simultaneously, they will now be cancelled and offered to other patients if not responded to by the end of the next working day.

The invite will appear in the following format

“You have been invited to book your COVID-19 vaccination(s) . Please click on the following link to book your vaccination time(s) accurx.thirdparty.nhs.net/r/<unique code>”

If you have Facebook, you can also view a helpful video guide created by Hedge End Medical Centre (who use the same booking system).

If you do not have a smartphone or data / WiFi connection available to use the link you can forward the message to a trusted friend/family member who has a smartphone to book the appointment on your behalf. They will need to know your date of birth. The code is unique to you and can only be used to book your appointment.

Do not panic if they are no appointments available when you try to respond- availability is monitored frequently and new clinics may be added daily. The link is valid for several days so you can simply check again at the end of the next working day.

We also will be aware of those texts sent awaiting response and will make contact if no response for a few days. There is no need to contact the surgery to book the vaccination.