The NHS in north-west London has urged the public not to turn up at Covid-19 vaccination centres without being invited.

It comes following reports people have been attending the centre at Barnet Football Club’s The Hive, in Camrose Avenue, without appointments.

Staff and volunteers have stressed this is not acceptable, pointing out that it can lead to time delays and put people’s safety at risk.

Advice given out by the North-West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) 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 don’t 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.”

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

There are still ambitions 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.

CCGs 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.

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.