IT glitch which added 7000 extra bookings caused Fife COVID vaccine centre chaos
and live on Freeview channel 276
Now Jeane Freeman, Cabinet Secretary for Health, has issued an apology for the impact on elderly people who were left to queue for an hour, or longer, in freezing cold conditions.
She said this was “unacceptable and far below my expectations.”
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Hide AdThe problem hit no fewer than eight centres across the region, with massive queues snaking right round Templehall Community Centre in Kirkcaldy - and similar pictures reported in Glenrothes, Levenmmouth, and Lochgelly.
The extra appointments only came to light when the clinics opened, and were swamped by people seeking their jags.
Ms Freeman said all double booked appointments would be fulfilled in the next two days.
In addition, technical changes are being made by the end of the week to the system used by NHS Fife to “ensure this cannot re-occur.”
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Hide AdExtra vaccinators have been added at five clinics, and the Scottish Ambulance service is on stand by to help with jags and possibly man mobile units.
Despite the problems, some 5000 Fifers were still vaccinated during yesterday’s day of chaos - the highest number in a single day in the Kingdom to date.
Today all clinics were reported to be running smoothly with no repeat of the long queues outside.
The extra bookings means Fife will have used 41,000 vaccinations this week, instead of the projected 37,000, but NHS senior executives stressed they had sufficient stock to cope.
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Hide AdCarol Potter, chief executive, said: “Despite the considerable challenges, we are pleased that more than 5,000 people across Fife received their vaccination yesterday and we expect that to increase again today.
“We are determined that we will maintain the pace of the programme to ensure that our older people and those considered clinically vulnerable in Fife are vaccinated as quickly as possible.”She thanked the public for their “continued understanding” and praised staff for going the extra mile, adding: “There are countless examples across our wards and departments of staff going above and beyond to provide the best care possible to patients and they continue to be a credit to us.”