Apology as 71,000 calls swamp Fife flu jab hotline

A review has been ordered into Fife’s flu jab campaign after phone lines were overwhelmed by people trying to book appointments.

Health bosses have apologised after people spent days trying to get through.

They revealed the system had logged 71,000 calls in just two days.

Steps are also in hand to tackle the backlog.

The region’s flu jab phone line was swamped by thousands of people trying to book immunisations after letters were sent to vulnerable people urging them to get in touch.

Many were were left without appointments or a response, despite spending several days trying to get through.

At Fife's Health and Social Care Integrated Joint Board (IJB) meeting, Dona Milne, director of public health said a full-scale review will be carried out.

She added: "I know this has caused a lot of anxiety. We have taken a significant number of people on board to help. We have people working through the backlog.”

She added: “There will be extra people working this weekend as well to try to get on top of this."

Ms Milne said the board had been "overwhelmed" by the "unanticipated response" after it received 71,000 calls within two days of letters being sent.

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She assured the public that NHS Fife has enough vaccines, and appointments and immunisations will continue despite stricter lockdown measures coming into force.

The review will be presented at the next IJB meeting.

Ms Milne added:"We'd ask people to bear with us as we go through this process to get on top of this backlog, and identify the measures we can put in place to avoid this happening again."

Carol Potter, interim chief executive of NHS Fife apologised for the board's handling of the flu jab programme, adding: "It could have been better."

She said: "Our staff within our public health and immunisation teams are doing their utmost to provide the best service possible. I'd like to thank them for all their incredible efforts.

"That doesn't take away from the fact that this has caused a lot of anxiety for members of the public and I assure you that appointments will be made available to everyone."

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