People turned away from vaccine centre
REFUSED ENTRY AS‘THEY DIDN’T HAVE LETTER OR EMAIL’
PEOPLE were turned away from a Gwynedd vaccine centre by a security guard despite receiving phone calls from their GP telling them to attend to get their Covid-19 jab.
A patient at Beaumaris Health Centre received phone calls on Tuesday telling them that they had been booked in to have the vaccine at the Bangor Brailsford Centre (also known as Ysbyty Enfys) after some slots had become available.
But, when they arrived on Wednesday, they were turned away at the door for not having an email or a letter to show that they had an appointment.
Patients were allegedly told that, if they had been booked on to the system, they would have received an e-mail confirmation and, if they did not have it with them, they could not receive the vaccine.
Patients have now had their appointments re-booked, according to the Beaumaris Health Centre, who say that any patients that have been booked into the centre “will not be turned away”.
One patient said: “My partner received a phone call on Tuesday from our GP at Beaumaris Health Centre saying he was eligible for the vaccine and gave us an appointment for Wednesday morning.
“He was told to just turn up but, when we arrived, we were turned away because we did not have a letter or an email, and the person in charge said it wouldn’t have been booked on to the system.
“Many people were being turned away while we were there and they were told the same thing.
“This needs sorting out as many different GP practices could be having the same problem.
“We spoke to the practice and my partner has now been re-booked, but this time we have received a confirmation email.
“Nowhere in the email does it say to bring the email with you and not everyone over 75 has computers or printers.
“We were not told by our GP that we would receive an email, we were just told to turn up as were many others who were also turned away.”
Acknowledging that there had been an issue, a statement was issued on Beaumaris Health Centre’s Facebook page saying: “The Bangor Brailsford vaccination centre had some issues that have impacted on our patients and we apologise on their behalf.
“We have been assured that any patients that have been booked into the Centre will not be turned away.
“Please take your letter or confirmation email if you have one.
“But don’t worry if you don’t please just take some form of ID to help the arrival process.
“We have received another delivery of vaccine at the surgery and will be holding another full day clinic in the surgery on Friday.
“Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.”
Practice manager Joanne Andreou has now assured patients that the issue has been rectified and no patients will be turned away.
Gill Harris, executive director of nursing and midwifery, said: “A very small number of patients were turned away from our Mass Vaccination Centre at Ysbyty Enfys Bangor earlier this week as a result of a misunderstanding with a new member of our security team, which has since been resolved.
“We understand that the small number of people affected have now received their vaccination.
“There are a number of legitimate reasons why people may be turned away from our Mass Vaccination Centres.
“This includes people who do not have an appointment, people who have booked an appointment using a booking link that wasn’t intended for them, or people who have simply arrived too early for their appointment.”