DOCTORS across the UK were offered £100,000 to vaccinate the workforce of a luxury property company as fears of a black market for coronavirus jabs escalate.
The Hacking Trust reportedly sent an email to NHS surgeries offering a “reward” for vaccinating its “frontline” staff.
The property investment firm, of Wandsworth, south London, said it would pay £5,000 for every jab administered to its workers, according to an email seen by The Telegraph.
The Hacking Trust introduced itself as a private medical company who is seeking to vaccinate its frontline staff as quickly as possible.
The email said: “We require approximately 20 vaccinations and we understand you are operating a Covid-19 vaccination centre.
“We have been informed that many appointments are not kept and some do not attend at all.
“On this basis we would like to be informed as soon as possible of any “no shows” or cancellations on any given day which would result in unnecessary wastage of the vaccination.”
The company said it would donate the £5,000 sum as a charitable donation to the surgery or staff member directly but the disclosure has fuelled fears of an emerging black market for jabs.
A spokesperson said: “The Hacking Health Trust has offered in open correspondence to some GPs charitable donations to staff or surgeries in this difficult time for any vaccines which were unused.
“We had heard that some vaccines were being unused due to missed appointments.
“We would apologise that our good intentions have been misinterpreted.”
It’s understood that the email was sent to other GP surgeries including one in Worthing, West Sussex.
The company brands itself as “specialists in purchasing residential and commercial properties” and a “market leader in its sector”.
The email was sent from the firm’s Hacking Health Trust branch which specialises in “looking to buy commercial medical properties on a nationwide basis”.
Covid-19 vaccines are licensed by Public Health England and are not available for private sale.
Robyn Clark, a director of the Institute for General Practice Management, which represents NHS GP practice managers, said: “The IGPM are appalled that this company would offer money to practices to essentially jump the queue.
‘APPALLED’
“Practices are doing their utmost to ensure vaccine is given to the priority groups as laid out by the JCVI, as these are the most vulnerable in our society.
“These patients have been waiting for vaccine and many of them are willing to attend sites at short notice to get the chance to have it.
“We are astounded that anyone would think offering money is appropriate in these circumstances. The NHS is free at the point of access for patients and always will be.”
Last month it was reported that wealthy people were offering huge sums of money to skip the queue for the coronavirus vaccines.
Some private doctors claim they have been bombarded with requests from individuals offering to pay to have their vaccine ahead of others.
Dr Roshan Ravindran, owner of Klnik in Wilmslow, Cheshire, claimed some clients had offered £2,000 for injections.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, believes vaccines should be rolled out in order of clinical priority.
“I am giving you my views as a clinician that I think these vaccines need to be prioritised to those who need them, not those who can afford to pay for them privately,” he said.
Tory MP Greg Clark, chair of the science and technology committee, said vaccines left over should be reserved for healthcare professionals.
“It is important that vaccines should be given in order of the age and vulnerability of patients.
“If there are ever any unused vaccines that need to be deployed by the NHS at the end of a day they should be offered first to critical workers,” he said.
