LORRY driver shortages is having an impact of GP surgeries across Reading as delays continue with the arrival of flu vaccinations.

Healthwatch Reading has warned people to be patient as doctors' surgeries cope with delayed deliveries due to the national lorry driver shortages.

The shortage on lorry drivers has also had an impact on petrol stations over the weekend as pumps eagerly wait for more fuel to be delivered.

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The fuel crisis also continues today with many petrol stations waiting for petrol and diesel deliveries.

Because of lorry driver shortages, a number of GP surgeries across Reading have had to push back the flu vaccination programme to the over 65s.

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Balmore Park Surgery in Caversham had hoped to start giving jabs on Saturday, September 25 but had to push this back to Saturday, October 9 due to road haulage delays.

The surgery said: "Please accept our apologies for the delay but this really is beyond our control."

The Potteries Surgery in Tilehurst said on Thursday, September 23, that its flu vaccine delivery ‘has unfortunately been delayed again’ and it hoped to hold its first flu clinic on 9 October.

Milman Road and Kennet surgeries told patients in early September that its deliveries had also been affected, due to circumstances 'out of control'.

All surgeries are asking patients not to ring to find out flu vaccination or Covid booster vaccination dates and instead wait to be contacted.

While doctors would like to be able to give eligible people their flu and Covid booster at the same time, different delivery dates or delays mean that this might not be possible at all surgeries.