AT-RISK patients are missing out on vital flu jabs, sparking fears of a possible epidemic this winter - because of the postal strikes.

Doctors' surgeries across York warned life-saving immunisation clinics were being hit by the industrial action at Royal Mail.

Dana Homer, practice manager at Jorvik Medical Practice, said only half the usual number of patients turned up to their first drop-in clinic of the season. She said: "We have had lots of complaints from patients that they have not received our letters of notification."

Postal strike holds up vital letters telling of clinics Flu jab crisis

DOCTORS' surgeries across York have warned the risk of a flu epidemic is higher than ever after their annual immunisation clinics were hit by the postal strikes.

Practice managers said today thousands of letters notifying at-risk patients about flu clinics had failed to reach their destination.

Doctors are now urging patients to contact their surgery as soon as possible.

The Communication Workers' Union in York apologised for the chaos, but said Royal Mail was not prepared to pay them to work overtime to clear the backlog.

Dana Homer, practice manager at Jorvik Medical Practice, said only half the usual number of patients turned up to their first drop-in clinic last Saturday.

She said: "There is obviously going to be more chance of a flu epidemic this year. If we don't get patients into the surgery soon, then it could be too late.

"We have had lots of complaints from patients that they have not received our letters of notification. It is a real problem."

Dr Brian McGregor, who is vice-chairman of the York Local Medical Committee, said low attendance at flu clinics would cost surgeries money.

He said: "During flu clinics, we have to have extra reception staff, extra cleaning staff and extra nurses.

"There is a big cost involved in doing the clinics and it is going to cost us if we have to reorganise them."

He also urged everybody who was in the at-risk category - including over-65s and patients with chest problems, asthma and diabetes - to book into a flu clinic now.

James Player, of Age Concern York, said the situation was extremely concerning.

He said: "There would be serious adverse effects if everybody who is at risk did not get their flu jabs.

"We would strongly urge anybody who is at risk to contact their doctors' surgery as soon as possible."

David Gill, who is practice manager for Priory Medical Group, in York, said: "Across our six surgeries we have more than 10,000 patients who are eligible for the flu jab, so across the whole of York there are going to be hundreds of thousands of people who are affected by this."

A spokespman for Royal Mail apologised for the situation, but said they were doing everything possible to get services back to normal.

But a spokesman for York's Communication Workers' Union said their employers were making the mail problems even worse.

He said: "Royal Mail is not prepared to pay staff for working overtime to clear the back log because they will not reward people for going on strike.

"We don't want to cause problems for anyone, we have just been backed into a corner by an employer who wants to impose rather than negotiate."