Health officials have apologised after pensioners were wrongly told they had to make a 100-mile round trip for Covid-19 booster injections.
Letters were sent in error to elderly residents in Garelochhead, saying they had an appointment in Dunoon.
Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has apologised, saying the letters had been sent in error by the National Vaccine Scheduling Service.
A statement this afternoon said: “Anyone who has received an appointment letter sent for Covid-19 vaccination clinics outwith their own area, please disregard this appointment and you will be reappointed by letter shortly.
“Please accept our sincere apologies for the error an any inconvenience caused.”
Councillor George Freeman contacted the HSCP this afternoon after being contacted by a number of over-75s in the Lomond North ward who had been told to go to the Cowal Community Hospital on April 27.
“I believe that this is totally unacceptable and that local clinics must be arranged so that my elderly constituents are not faced with a 100-mile round trip,” he said.
“Many of these elderly constituents (some over 80) do not drive and there is no public transport service between Garelochhead and Dunoon
“Constituents have told me that they tied to phone the number provided but have discovered that there is at least a 35-minute wait for their call to be take.”
Subsequently HSCP chief officer Fiona Davies rang Cllr Freeman to apologise; she said that that new letters would be sent out and local clinics arranged.
With reference to the report above on the second booster vaccinations, having been made aware that there were Covid vaccination clinics due to be held at Cove Burgh Hall on Tuesday 5th April and at Centre 81 at Garelochhead on Wednesday 6th April, I have continued to pursue this issue with officers at NHS Highland, Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and Argyll & Bute Council.
The Clinic at Cove Burgh Hall on Tuesday is included on the NHS Highland website but, for some strange reason, the clinic at Centre 81 is not. Unfortunately the NHS Highland website makes it clear that the clinic at Cove is NOT for those 75 and over seeking their second booster vaccinations. It states that those over 75 should await a letter providing them with an appointment. Again, it was confirmed to me that those who received letters inviting them to clinics at Dunoon, Lochgilphead and other areas across Argyll & Bute should ignore these letters and wait for a new letter providing them with details of a local clinic. The posters that have been put up in some shops etc across my ward state that these two clinics are offering the second booster vaccinations for all those over 75. Officers at the HSCP confirmed to me that this is not the case.
I went back to senior officers at the HSCP yesterday and asked that if someone over 75 arrive at one of these clinics looking for their second booster vaccination, would they be turned away. The response I received reads as follows:
“The programme for over 75s 2nd booster clinics across Argyll & Bute is planned to start on 11th April with appointments by letter to avoid queueing. As you know, we’re working with the national appointments agency to rectify incorrect bookings for these clinics. The clinics in Cove on 5th April and Garelochhead on 6th April are drop in clinics which are not intended for over 75s due their 2nd booster. The poster appears to have been locally produced and the information on it isn’t consistent with the HSCPs plan for over 75s 2nd boosters. Having said that, if anyone 75+ attends either of these two clinics for their 2nd booster, they will be vaccinated if their last booster was more than 12 weeks ago”.
Thankfully, it has now been made clear to me in writing that if anyone 75 or over turns up at the Cove or Garelochhead clinics next week, they will not be turned away and should receive their second booster vaccination.
I hope that this helps to clarify the situation with regards to the Covid clinics at Cove Burgh Hall and at Centre 81 at Garelochhead next week.
I have made it clear again that there is no criticism of the staff who are delivering these vaccinations but the management and organisation of the system has been a shambles.
Councillor George Freeman