‘Why should I pay for a jab I'm entitled to?'

7:00am Friday 2nd November 2007

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A WOMAN who suffers from pleurisy after her lung collapsed is demanding to know why her doctor has refused to give her a free winter flu jab.

Amanda Barbara, 35, of Holtspur Way, Beaconsfield, says she was not informed by her surgery, the Millbarn Medical Centre, in London End, Beaconsfield that she would have to pay for her flu injection this winter despite being on sick benefit.

Miss Barbara, who was signed off work for a year in August, said: "Why did I pay national insurance all the years when I was working? I've worked part-time since I was 12. How do you expect someone to pay for a £100 flu jab when they're on £90 a week. Why should I pay for something that I'm entitled to have?"

She added: "I want to know why. I have had that flu jab every year and they never forewarned me that I would not be getting it.

"What about all those other people who have had what I've had and who are not getting them? I think something should be done."

Miss Barbara, who has been registered with the surgery for 30 years, suffered a collapsed lung and was rushed to intensive care two-and-a-half years ago.

She said: "I had pleurisy four times last year. If I don't get a flu jab I'm going to be in and out of that surgery all winter. It's pretty obvious that it's going to be detrimental to my health and my life."

Dr Dipa Patel from Millbarn Medical Centre said: "We can't comment on individual patients because of patient confidentiality. Miss Barbara will have to come to us. We follow the guidelines set out by the Government."