PENSIONERS in Lochwinnoch are up in arms after being told to travel miles to get their flu vaccination.

Older residents are campaigning for a local vaccination hub to be established after being informed via text that they would have to travel as far as Paisley to get their jab.

Councillor Andy Doig, who represents Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch, said he has been contacted by several residents who were “outraged” to discover they would have to go to a temporary clinic at St Mirren Football Club.

He told The Gazette: “If you don’t have a car, that is a 13-mile journey, with three buses involved, which is not acceptable for people who may already have mobility issues.

“I understand that the Mistylaw GP practice is not open as normal due to the Covid crisis but other reasonable options must be found.”

Jane Owens is among the Lochwinnoch residents calling for a local hub to be established.

She said: “The vaccinations should be done in the village and I don’t understand why a marquee can’t be set up for us, like they’re doing in the nearby village of Beith.”

Health chiefs have apologised to patients for any inconvenience.

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "In August the Scottish Government asked that NHS Boards and HSCPs play a significant role in delivery of flu vaccination programme, which has been a significantly extended this year.

"While GP surgeries have undertaken flu vaccination for the majority of patients in the past, this year is different due to effects on us all of living with COVID - the need for large scale vaccination centres that can more easily manage social distancing, infection control and manage the flow of patients were therefore needed. 

"It was agreed within NHSGGC area that GPs would deliver flu vaccinations to their 18-64 year-old at risk groups with HSCPs/NHS Boards delivering the vaccine to other eligible groups.  This year’s flu programme needs to vaccinate approximately double what has been done in previous years.

"Renfrewshire HSCP will deliver flu vaccination for the over 65s from a central vaccination centre at St Mirren Park in Paisley – this site is large enough to allow safe social distancing and can accommodate the 1,000 vaccinations per day required to immunise all those eligible.

"Patients will receive a letter with their appointment details from the national system – please note that patients must not ‘walk up’ for a vaccination. If a patient cannot attend their appointment day/time they can contact our GGC call centre on 0141 201 4180 in order to re-book for a more suitable date. 

"We appreciate that this change will create a challenge for some, in particular those in areas furthest from Paisley.  There is information available on the flu pages of Renfrewshire HSCP’s website which outlines the excellent public transport links to St Mirren as well as options such as the SPT MyBus service for those over 80 (and those receiving eligible benefits under 80). 

"All those identified as housebound by their GP practices and notified to the HSCP will receive a domiciliary visit for their flu vaccination. 

"Where possible the District Nurse teams will take additional vaccines to immunise eligible household members at the same time. 

"We would like to apologise to our patients for any inconvenience this may cause and would ask that every effort is made to attend appointments. If needed, a patient can contact the call centre to rearrange the appointment for a later and more suitable date."

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