Apology over admin error which sent Fifers on 50-mile round trip to get flu vaccinations
NHS Fife has blamed an admin error after a number of people in north east Fife faced round trips of up to 50 miles to attend flu vaccination appointments.
The issue had been raised by Willie Rennie MSP, after he had been contacted by constituents who all had to travel to and from Glenrothes.
He said one person had shared a map of available locations showing more than 30 available locations in the rest of Fife, but only three in North East Fife
He said residents in Balmullo and Newburgh have been offered appointments in Glenrothes, with some facing a 50-mile round trip and long journeys by bus. A couple whose previous vaccination appointments were at the St Andrews Community Hospital were also assigned appointments in Glenrothes. People have also highlighted local clinics which were run previously at locations including the Cupar Corn Exchange, the Larick Centre in Tayport and the Tayside Institute in Newburgh, and which provided easier access to vaccination.
Mr Rennie called for an explanation from NHS Fife and for the number of locations in his constituency to be increased.
He said: “The seasonal vaccination programme is vitally important to protect people’s health and reduce pressure on the health service through the winter.
“NHS Fife should be making it as simple and accessible as possible for people to get vaccinated, but instead my constituents are being asked to travel outside of North East Fife to access appointments. This isn’t just about the inconvenience it will cause people. Some could be put off getting vaccinated altogether.
A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: “Due to an administrative issue, a number of people living in North East Fife have incorrectly been offered appointments for flu vaccination in Glenrothes.
“NHS Fife is in the process of contacting those affected to offer an alternative appointment at a vaccination clinic in St Andrews. We apologise for the confusion and inconvenience this error has caused.
“We remain committed to making vaccination services as accessible as possible and providing convenient local options for eligible patients across Fife.”