After reports of people turning up at vaccination centres without appointments, the NHS in north-west London has set out how to get a Covid-19 jab.

Health bosses revealed this week that some people have arrived at the vaccination centre at Barnet Football Club’s The Hive, in Camrose Avenue, without appointments.

On Monday (January 25), Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited The Hive, where he hinted lockdown measures could be eased once priority groups have been vaccinated.

Harrow Times: The Prime Minister at a vaccination centre at The Hive, home of Barnet FC. Credit: PA

Read more: Coronavirus: Boris Johnson hints at easing of lockdown

Staff and volunteers have stressed this is not acceptable, pointing out that it can delay other people's vaccinations and put people’s safety at risk.

Advice given out by the North-West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) stressed the importance of waiting until you receive a letter.

It stated: “The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

“Please do not contact your doctor or the NHS asking about vaccination; this is not a service that you are able to book in advance.

“The NHS will contact you when your turn comes in the months ahead. If you are contacted, please do attend the appointment.”

There Government hopes to vaccinate the four key target groups – care home residents and staff, those aged 80 and over and frontline healthcare workers, those aged 75 and over, and those aged 70 and above and clinically extremely vulnerable people – by the middle of February.

The group said it appreciates it can be “frustrating” to see some people being offered the vaccine while others are still waiting for invitations but pointed out it is opening all vaccination sites “as quickly as possible”.

Clinical commissioning groups also reminded people to be wary of scammers offering Covid-19 vaccines in return for personal information including bank details.

It stressed the NHS will never ask for payments or financial information related to the vaccine and urged people to avoid engaging with suspicious links sent via text or email.