NHS LOTHIAN: ‘THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED VERY QUICKLY’
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has said that an urgent investigation is needed into the breakdown in communication between the Scottish Government and people in the Edinburgh and the Lothians expecting their first vaccination letters.
The target to have everyone over 50 in Scotland vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine by mid-April, is expected to be met. Lothian residents are however being told they won’t get their first vaccination until May.
Additionally some residents aged 60 and over are phoning the Covid-19 vaccine helpline, to be told their vaccination is due next week, but they haven’t received a letter.
Yesterday (Thursday 11th March) the Lothian MSP raised the issue of vaccination letters with the First Minister:
‘I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are becoming increasingly concerned about the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Edinburgh and about the inconsistencies relating to people in different age groups being called to be vaccinated.
‘I have raised those concerns with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. I appreciate that there will be some overlap within age groups, but there seems to be confusion about when those in the 60 to 65-year-old age group will receive their vaccination in Edinburgh.
‘I am sure that the First Minister agrees that it would be unacceptable for NHS Lothian residents to be behind those in other health board areas. What additional resources will NHS Lothian receive? Will she investigate the situation? Why is the Scottish Government not publishing age-specific vaccination uptake figures for health boards?
There has also been a delay to people hearing back from the online system where people submit a vaccination form if they think they should have had a vaccination appointment letter, due to the “high volume of enquiries”.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “It is the responsibility of the Scottish Government to distribute vaccination appointment letters to everyone in Scotland.
“This week something has obviously gone very wrong with people not receiving their letter, or being told their appointment is not until May.
“An urgent investigation is needed to give people clarity on when their appointment will be and they are not being forgotten about.
“The rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination is too important to get wrong and we all want it to happen as quickly as possible so that restrictions can be lifted safely.
“SNP Ministers have to date refused to provide a breakdown of the numbers of people in age groups in each Health Board who have received the vaccination. It would be totally unacceptable for people in Lothian to be at the end of the queue.
“I would encourage people aged between 60-65, due for COVID-19 vaccine, who live in NHS Lothian and who have not received an appointment letter then phone 0800 030 8013.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman insisted there are no ‘systemic problems’ when she led the daily media briefing this afternoon.
NHS Lothian finally clarified the situation this evening:
.’We are vaccinating the “priority groups” of patients as fast as the vaccine supply allows. We are currently vaccinating group 6 and next week (week commencing March 15) will extend into group 7, which is patients aged 60 years and over.
‘Appointment letters are being distributed by a central system to patients across Scotland. We understand there has been a delay in sending out some appointment letters this week (March 12).
‘This should be resolved very quickly and the letters are expected to arrive by this weekend. However, if you are over 60 and have not received an appointment letter by Monday (March 15), please call the national helpline on 0800 030 8013.’