Craiglockhart Campus: Pensioner in vulnerable category calls out staff for 'failing PPE rules' at Edinburgh flu clinic

A 66-year-old woman said she was horrified after claiming a nurse and a volunteer at one of Edinburgh’s temporary flu clinics failed to comply with social distancing and PPE regulations.

Craiglockhart Campus where a temporary flu vaccination drive-through clinic has been set up picture: Google Images

The patient, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she noticed the alleged flouting of coronavirus regulations during a visit to the Craiglockhart Campus over the weekend, where a temporary drive-through flu vaccination centre has been set up.

Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, the concerned woman said: “The lack of common sense shown by staff at Craiglockhart Campus vaccination centre this morning (Saturday, October 24) was putting thousands of individuals in a vulnerable category at risk.

"A volunteer who was not wearing gloves was asking everyone to lower their car window and she was sticking her head right up to the window to give drivers a form to complete.

“Everyone receiving the vaccine had to fill in a separate form, which she was handing in. Everyone was being given the same pen to hold.

"Every single person touched that pen, yet the reason we were all there for our flu jab was because we were deemed to be in the vulnerable category.

"We were all sitting there with our appointment letters containing a QR code, which had been deliberately set up to minimise contact.”

She then claimed a nurse carrying out the vaccinations was not wearing a mask or gloves and confronted her when asked to put them on.

“I said through the car window that I wanted her to wear a mask,” the woman continued. “And I refused to lower my window until she was wearing a mask.

"But she became extremely angry, saying that I was holding up the queue and we should just go home.

"She reappeared wearing a mask which was not covering her nose, so I asked her to wear her mask properly and she replied that it was ‘unhealthy’ to touch her mask with her hands.

“I am full of gratitude to the NHS for the amazing work they have been doing during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the lack of PPE at this flu clinic is surely an urgent training issue?”

David Small, director of primary care transformation at NHS Lothian, said: “Patient and staff safety are paramount during flu vaccination clinics.

"If standards are not as stringent as they should be, we would apologise to those affected and reassure them that we will look into their concerns and, if required, take the correct steps to reinforce the necessary practices.”

After being told about NHS Lothian’s statement, the patient, who sent a photo of a woman standing outside her car not wearing a mask believed to be the nurse in question, said: “Just sorry if one medically negligent nurse passed on the virus to over 400 older and vulnerable people being vaccinated that morning?”

The clinic, among others in Edinburgh that have been set up since the pandemic hit in March, has come under fire previously for long waiting times, with patients describing the traffic co-ordination as “an utter shambles”.

But organisers of the NHS flu jab centres across the city blamed the delayed appointments on “teething problems.”

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