Anger at Swine Flu vaccination delay

Peter Swindon • Published 26 Nov 2009 09:14 Comments 1 Comment

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Labour MSP Helen Eadie has slammed the NHS after a planned swine flu vaccination programme was delayed.

Patients were turned away from Cardenden Health Centre after GPs' supplies dried up just days after the rollout began.

The Dunfermline East MSP said, "I am absolutely appalled that my constituents were not able to get the vaccinations due to them. The people booking appointments are the most vulnerable to this deadly virus, including the elderly, those with long term health problems and pregnant women.

"It beggars belief that people are having to worry about this when sufficient stockpiles of the vaccine exist. This delay should never have occurred."

Health Protection Scotland figures show a jump in the number of Fife patients admitted to hospital for swine flu.

The latest figures showed there had been a total of 86 patients hospitalised, up from 68 the previous week.

"The public can only feel safe if the NHS is seen to be providing a professional and efficient service," added Mrs Eadie. "I have already written to the health secretary Nicola Sturgeon asking her to investigate. Delays such as this are simply unacceptable when lives are on the line."

A spokeswoman for NHS Fife admitted that the health board was left high and dry.

"Levels of H1N1 vaccine supply to NHS Fife have to date been lower than were initially expected. Supplies have been distributed to all 57 GP practices in Fife as well as to the 11 NHS health and social care workforce vaccination centres."

She added, "Information being supplied nationally across Scotland indicates that vaccine supplies are likely to increase substantially in the coming weeks. NHS Fife plans to meet national targets to vaccinate at risk population groups, pregnant women and priority health and social care staff groups by the end of December 2009."

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Karen Murphy
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Dec 29, 19:04
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I would like to point out that it is not just a shortage of H1N1 vaccines that are making the public angry. I was invited to Benarty Medical Practice on 5/12/09 for mine but I could not make this appointment as I was working. The receptionist was very unhelpful and told me to phone back at a later date. I phoned the next week and still no alternative arrangements had been made for those people who could not attend the one clinic on offer. I am a nurse who works for the NHS and when I explained this it made no difference. I was told I would have to wait on the practice organising another clinic day. I asked if I could make a nurse or GP appointment to have it done but was told no. I decided to contact occupational health through my work in the hope I could get the vaccine through them like every one else at work but was told because I was having the vaccine for health reasons I had to have it through my GP. I then went into the surgery to enquire (again!) and the receptionist took my name. They were apparently compiling a list of people still to be vaccinated. This was just before Christmas and I am still waiting to be vaccinated. I feel angry that the surgery thought that a saturday clinic would suit all. A lot of people work weekends and shifts. You would think the nurses in the practice would remember this! So while I am still waiting for the surgery to organise themselves I could potentially be carrying the H1N1 virus with me to work! Good Job Benarty Medical Centre!!

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