A DOCTORS' practice today fears patients may miss out on life-saving flu jabs as letters fail to reach them in time because of the postal strikes.Staff at Orchard Street Health Centre in Ipswich want to give around 2,000 vulnerable people flu jabs but information sent out in the post will now not reach them.

A DOCTORS' practice today fears patients may miss out on life-saving flu jabs as letters fail to reach them in time because of the postal strikes.

Staff at Orchard Street Health Centre in Ipswich want to give around 2,000 vulnerable people flu jabs but information sent out in the post will now not reach them.

Postal workers across the UK walked out on strike on Thursday, crippling mail deliveries until next week in a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and pensions.

The strikes mean there will be no deliveries until Thursday.

But half of the Ipswich flu clinics are on Thursday, and it will be too late by the time patients get their post.

Andrea Clarke, practice manager for doctors Pavitt, McCullagh, Chittick, Williams and Craggs, said: “The flu jab clinics are for our patients who are over 65 or at risk, like diabetics and asthmatics.

“All those patients were due to receive a letter from us, telling them the times and giving information about the flu injections and why they need them

“We've been posting them over last week and this week, but were told by the sorting office in Ipswich yesterday that nothing more is being dealt with until next Wednesday.

“Some people will have already received their information, but not everyone.”

Patients with surnames starting with A-C can attend between 9am and 11am on Thursday . It is 11.45am-12.45pm for D-H and 1.15pm to 3.30pm for I-M.

On Thursday, October 18, N-S can attend from 9am to 11am and T-Z from 11.45am to 12.45pm. The 1.15pm to 3.30pm session is a catch up for people who cannot attend their relevant time slot.

Patients who need further information can call the practice on 01473 213261.