They've managed the flu jab which is aimed at the same initial demographic perfectly well for donkey's years.
Yes I must admit I get the oblique letter yearly and if I don't respond the GP surgery telephones as well. All of which makes me believe they must be on an incentive for Flu jabs to the Elderly one way or another?
I was advised that passing 75 I no longer qualify for bowl cancer screening. After questions to my MP etc this was revised to - and I quot
e:
"After extensive research it was found that bowel cancer was most prevalent in the age range of 60-75 which is why this is the cut off for automatic screening recalls. But you can contact us to remain on the screening every 2 years for as long as you wish in the future."
Apparently this is where the 'National' in NHS can vary to the decision of your local trust. After I'd queried and followed it through at Westminster level it appeared that the decliner they'd sent originally was only a change in the logistics involved. In other words I had to become pro-active, past 75. Clearly a hope that due to inertia most 'senior' citizens would forget and save the NHS the bother.
Sadly I remember 5 years ago 'viewing' my 'file' in Hospital, which an errant clerk left beside me, after being the third such entity to check my identical details before a small surgical operation to a finger. It was marked at the top 'SPO' in pencil. I photographed this along with everything else, during the long wait. I later learnt this acronym stood for 'Spare Parts Only'. My attitude to the NHS has understandably I feel, has been somewhat reticent since?