Covid-19 vaccination clinics ‘postcode lottery’ row erupts

A“postcode lottery” row has blown up over community coronavirus vaccine clinics amid claims south Angus has been ignored in the new rollout.

NHS Tayside is setting up centres across the region, including at Stracathro Hospital, near Brechin; Arbroath Infirmary; Links Health Centre in Montrose; and Forfar’s Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre.

It is part of a move to deliver the jab to the 65 to 69-year-old age group.

Health chiefs have said the aim is to invite everyone in the age bracket for vaccination by the middle of this month.

But a Carnoustie councillor has criticised the absence of a south Angus clinic and branded it another example of “twotier” treatment for one of the local authority’s four locality areas.

Independent Brian Boyd said: “Carnoustie Leisure Centre is sitting empty, or the Beach Hall in Monifieth could have been used.

“But here we are again in a situation where residents in Monifieth and Carnoustie feel they are living in a two-tier Angus.

Mr Boyd added: “As a council we work on a four locality basis – Arbroath and Area; Brechin/Montrose; Forfar/Kirriemuir, and Carnoustie/Monifieth and Sidlaws – so why is there not one in each?

“The Brechin/Montrose locality has two clinics while south Angus has none.

“The south Angus demographic shows the highest proportion of 65 to 69-year-olds in the county.

“I am very supportive of our medical centre in Carnoustie and the work they do, but with no clinic site in south Angus how can our residents be assured they will not see an increase in the already long waiting times for an appointment for non-Covid inquiries.

“Why were the four Angus localities all looked at during whatever negotiations took place over the proposed location of these clinics.

“It seems to be a bit of a postcode lottery situation for people in Carnoustie and Monifieth.

“I don’t think this will do anything to ease the perception of inequality that residents in south Angus have felt on numerous occasions,” added Mr Boyd.

An Angus Council spokesperson said: “The vaccine programme is being delivered by the NHS and as such they make the decisions on vaccination provision.

“Angus Council stands ready to support NHS Tayside as and when required.”

NHS chiefs have said the local centres will up the pace of the vaccination programme.

Associate director of public health Dr Daniel Chandler said: “There has been a huge amount of work by NHS Tayside’s vaccination teams in partnership with colleagues in the local authorities and the armed forces to set up these venues and we are grateful to everyone who has helped to deliver this.”

Residents feel they are living in a twotier Angus

Brian Boyd feels south Angus merits a centre of its own.