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Highland MSP Fergus Ewing welcomes Scottish Government move to return vaccination services to local GPs





Vaccination appointments will be available through GP surgeries in the Highlands again, having previously been centralised at NHS board level.
Vaccination appointments will be available through GP surgeries in the Highlands again, having previously been centralised at NHS board level.

Vaccination services are to return to GP level in the Highlands it has been confirmed.

Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing has been campaigning on the issue for the past three years, saying that a move to centralise responsibility for vaccination services at health board level simply didn’t work in the Highlands.

Urging Health Secretary Neil Gray to make a U-turn on the move during a debate on rural health in Holyrood last week, this followed a report shared by Beauly GP Dr Ross Jaffrey which highlighted a concerning drop in vaccine uptake in the Highlands after the services were centralised under NHS Highland.

The death of a child in the Highlands last spring was claimed to be linked to the centralisation of the vaccination system.

Many people have claimed it has been difficult to get appointments to seasonal flu or Covid vaccines or those meant to combat a range of other illnesses.

Today it was confirmed in Holyrood that Mr Gray has written to NHS Highland informing them of the decision to allow vaccinations to once again be delivered through GP practices in the region.

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Welcoming the move Mr Ewing said: “Last week in the chamber I argued that this centralised model of a vaccination programme simply never works in the Highlands and never will.

“An infant’s life has been lost, and low uptake levels of immunisation against diseases means that lives remain at risk.

“Under the centralised service GPs did not even know which of their patients were and were not immunised - a shocking failure of the system - and one which should in itself have meant that it was never implemented in the first place.

“The Health Secretary has confirmed to me that he will be willing to meet with me and Highland GPs perhaps in Inverness, but also on an online call since most GPs around the whole of the Highlands will not be able to meet in person.

“This will enable the GPs to put their views across about how this decision will be implemented and done as quickly as possible.”

And he added: “I must thank in particular the Nairn GPs Alastair Noble and Adrian Baker who have briefed me on this vital issue over the past three long years.

“It is because of their knowledge and expertise that I was able to argue this case with the Highland health board and the Scottish Government.

“The GP system will not only be safer - the crucial thing - but also far far less expensive and far more convenient especially for elderly, disabled and those who cannot easily travel to centralised vaccination centres.”

No details have been given yet of a timetable for the switch.

NHS Highland has been approached for comment.


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