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Invergordon flu clinic fury prompts explanation from NHS Highland chief


By Hector MacKenzie

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A lengthy queue of people waiting for flu jabs prompted an angry response from local councillor Maxine Smith.
A lengthy queue of people waiting for flu jabs prompted an angry response from local councillor Maxine Smith.

THE plight of scores of Easter Ross people left queuing in the cold and rain outside a community hospital awaiting flu jabs at the weekend has been probed by NHS Highland's new chief executive.

Photographs of a long queue forming outside the Invergordon County Hospital awaiting scheduled flu jabs on Saturday triggered an angry response from Cromarty Firth councillor, Maxine Smith.

Amid confusion over why such a lengthy queue had formed in the morning, Cllr Smith demanded answers from NHS Highland.

The jabs were organised by the local medical practice covering Invergordon and Alness.

"People did not adhere to social distancing outside the hospital and it was also a dreadful day so we can completely understand the concerns raised." - Pam Dudek

NHS Highland's new chief executive Pam Dudek, who took up her post today, said: "A flu clinic was scheduled to run at Invergordon Hospital and patients were issued letters with individual appointment times.

"The plan for the day was for large-scale vaccination of 1500 people which had been organised and was delivered by the local GP practice. The clinic was set up with 15-minute intervals between each set of patients being vaccinated to provide sufficient time for cleaning and to aid queue management and social distancing.

"The majority of patients arrived according to their appointment time however a number of patients arrived at the hospital prior to or after their scheduled appointment times. This resulted in a number of patients having to queue outside due to physical distancing measures.

"People did not adhere to social distancing outside the hospital and it was also a dreadful day so we can completely understand the concerns raised."

She dismissed claims that patients had been instructed to turn up without coats.

In a statement posted on the Alness and Invergordon Medical Group Facebook page, she wrote: "In the letter to patients they were advised to wear appropriate loose clothing so the flu vaccine could be administered in a safe and efficient manner while adhering to Covid-19 guidance.

"Patients were definitely not advised not to bring a coat, as has been reported. A total of 1500 patients have been safely vaccinated at this clinic."

Scottish Government health secretary Jeane Freeman had contacted NHS Highland after people complained on social media.

Health chiefs have invited thousands of eligible people to take up the offer of flu jabs with plans in place for a number of vaccination sessions planned outwith clinics to help social distancing and allow large numbers to be dealt with over a relatively short period of time.

Related: Fury as elderly left awaiting flu jags in the rain

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