Blunder leaves vaccine centres ‘without patients for two days’

HEALTH bosses have apologised after vaccination appointments were missed because of a blunder with invitation letters.

Vaccine centres in Lothian had ‘literally no patients’ for two days after appointment cards were lost in the post.

NHS staff were reportedly sent out to recruit from police stations ‘or anywhere else’ to prevent vaccines going to waste.

Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern Daniel Johnson disclosed details of the problem this week at Holyrood.

He said: ‘At the end of last week, it became clear there had been a major problem with the issuing of blue letters, in that people aged 60 to 64 in the Lothians had not been receiving their appointments.

‘I am informed the problem has persisted and some vaccination centres have had literally no patients over the past two days. Staff have been asked – I am using a source here – to go out and drum up support from police stations or anywhere else to fill slots.’

Anyone who missed an appointment will automatically receive another at some point next week.

A joint apology signed by NHS National Services Scotland, Royal Mail, NHS Lothian and the National Delivery Programme said: ‘Although the vast majority of vaccination appointments run smoothly, the national delivery partners met today to build a better understanding of what happened.

‘We are working closely together to ensure we give people the advance notice they need for vital appointments.’