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Original poster

Over 70, Vaccination 'missing invite letter' - what can we do?

36 replies

theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 08:12

My dad is 73 and therefore in the top 4 priority groups. He lives with my mum in West Lothian, also 73, who has had a letter and had her jab, hooray. My dad hasn’t received his invite letter, and hasn’t had his jab.

He's completed and returned the ‘Missing Invitations Contact Form’ as directed on the NHS Scotland website but has had no further feedback from them.

They have both been round ALL of the phone numbers for the last week to try to find out why he’s not got a letter and just hitting brick walls.…. The GP can’t help because Lothian apparently used the electoral roll to send the letters. He’s on the electoral roll.

Has anyone else had this problem and been contacted after alerting NHS Scotland to the issue?
Does anyone on here work for the department that are supposed to be investigating these errors? How big is the team and what timescales are they working to?

What else can we do, other than wait for someone to call? I’m getting worried that they are slowing the rollout, and if he doesn’t get sorted in this wave, they’ll both have to wait months longer than they need to before they feel safe (mum won’t do anything without dad).

Nicola Sturgeon, as she was telling the world that they had ‘hit all their targets’ on the 15th Feb, asked those people in the eligible groups who hadn’t had a letter by then to ‘email her personally’, which my dad immediately did – he’s heard nothing from her office either.

In England, he’d have been able to just book himself an appointment via the central booking line, which would have recognised his eligibility.

He doesn’t want to just turn up at a vaccination centre and cause a fuss – as he’s been researching online, he’s been finding stories about people in worse situations than him who’ve been missed off too and, law abiding and fair as he’s been all his life, doesn’t want to ‘barge in front of someone more needy’…….

Just feel so helpless here – any advice or experience would be useful.
Thanks!

OP posts:
Sootess · 22/02/2021 08:29

Contact his MSP

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 08:44

Thanks for the suggestion - MSP contacted last Monday - they passed his name to the NHS apparently - still nothing

OP posts:
RaspberryCoulis · 22/02/2021 09:11

Ms Sturgeon invited people in this situation to contact her directly. I'd do just that. Pointing out there is an election coming up.

And if no response from her, the press.

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 09:50

Thanks RaspberryCoulis - Ms Sturgeon was contacted by email last Monday - no response received. We'll give twitter a go, it's a bit more public.

OP posts:
RaspberryCoulis · 22/02/2021 09:53

I would go to Twitter. Or Facebook. Or if you're feeling particularly mischievous, find out who the health/vaccine spokespeople are for the other parties and email/tweet them too, making clear you're getting no response.

Sootess · 22/02/2021 10:02

Twitter good suggestions.
Or Lothian list MSP (conservative?) who may be more willing to publicise/chase his case

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 10:37

Thanks all - squeaky wheel will hopefully get the oil for everyone in this position.

OP posts:
ladylunchalot · 22/02/2021 13:21

Try NHS Lothian Facebook page and they should get back in touch with you. Try the helpline on 0800 030 8013 as they should be able to book an appointment.
Could your dad be on housebound list for any reason?
Really hope you can get it sorted out. I've been working in the vaccination clinics and we've been fitting patients in where we possibly can if they've been missed. Is there a clinic nearby?

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 13:53

Thanks Ladylunchalot. He could get to the Pyramids site easily enough but doesn't feel he can turn up without an appointment.

The people they've spoken to on the central number have said they don't have access to the NHS systems, that they are only working from the lists of people with letters. He was missed off THAT list, and doesn't know who can get him on it.
He's never been housebound, no - and that info would surely come from a GP?
His GP has told him that they weren't asked to provide any information for the invites, and that the electoral roll was used for the letters....
Don't think they've tried NHS Lothian Facebook yet, will give that a go. Thanks again.

OP posts:
ladylunchalot · 22/02/2021 14:02

@theymissedmydad that's such a shame, stress you all don't need. Definitely try Facebook and if no joy I would turn up at a site - even tell them the helpline said so. He's over 70 so should definitely be done by now so he's not jumping a queue.

MrsAmaretto · 22/02/2021 14:34

Contact the public health team for Lothian.

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 14:43

Thanks again both, I'll pass all those suggestions on.

OP posts:
mondaywine · 22/02/2021 17:16

Your MSP. My over 70 and shielding father was missed. He was finally done on Thursday. The health board won’t be able to help if he has been missed as they’ll have no record of him and the go won’t do it if he’s not shielding. It’s like a never ending circle and you can’t get an answer. Also email Nicola sturgeon direct. Start commenting on every nhs Lothian and Twitter post about it and you’ll find people in the same boat. MSP sorted dad and several others in same situation. It took a week to fix.

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 17:36

Glad you got your father sorted @mondaywine, but depressing that it can't be done straightforwardly.... we'll keep trying!

OP posts:
BlueThursday · 22/02/2021 17:43

I really feel for those who don’t have online access or an advocate for them who can do it for them.

Best of luck OP hope an appointment comes soon

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 20:01

You're absolutely right, @BlueThursday - the telephone lines are difficult enough to get an answer out of, and alot of the time the numbers are only to be found online.....

Fingers crossed that dad's rapidly expanding understanding of facebook and twitter and his 2-finger typing will get him somewhere :) !

OP posts:
Sootess · 22/02/2021 21:12

I really hope he gets this sorted @theymissedmydad. How stressful for him!
Let us know how he gets on

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 22/02/2021 23:21

Thanks @Sootess , I hope so too!

OP posts:
Friendofsadgirl · 22/02/2021 23:32

Was there a phone number on your DM's letter? DFIL never got a letter - 77 years old and high risk. DMIL called the number at the bottom of her invitation letter and he got an appointment immediately with 2 weeks notice. This was Lanarkshire. Phone number was 0800 030 8013 (option 1). I've checked NHS Lothian Facebook page and they show the same number on a post from 11th Feb for Covid vaccination appointments.

Original poster
theymissedmydad · 23/02/2021 14:49

@Friendofsadgirl , that number is the central booking line and yes, my mum has called it every day and not been able to persuade anyone to help.
The good news is that they took @ladylunchalot 's advice and just rocked up to a clinic today. They were lucky enough to speak to one of the managers and he's now booked in properly for a few days time. Although it's not the jab yet, it's a massive relief.

The manager was really lovely and understanding and even gave him a direct line to call in 9 weeks time when the follow-ups are being sent out, in case he gets missed off again.

Phew!

OP posts:
Sootess · 23/02/2021 16:26

Great news @theymissedmydad
You must all be very relieved Smile

NikkyNikky45 · 04/03/2021 05:30

@mondaywine could you advise which MSP helped you please? My adult son has type 1 diabetes and is my carer. He has been missed from the vaccination list. Helpline have sent 3 no appointment letters to Lothian health board. No joy. The helpline then advised me to phone health board. I phoned yesterday and they don’t have my son’s details but took down his details and said to call in two weeks if he hadn’t heard anything. GP said to phone helpline. My son has been shielding for a year as he has another autoimmune disease and also doesn’t want me to get it as I’m chronically ill. I emailed our MP and they said they have an email address to send missing names to but I’ve phoned to ask of any updates, and no reply.
The vaccination booking line and Lothian health board advised me that appointments booked up to end of April for group 6 so when my son is put onto the list he’ll need to wait for a cancellation.
I’ve also emailed Nicola Sturgeon and no reply.
I don’t know who to turn to for help.

mondaywine · 04/03/2021 06:15

@NikkyNikky45 that is absolutely awful. I am sorry you’re having to sort that out. We are Midlothian so it was Colin Beattie. His office were very helpful. I hope you can get this resolved quickly.

NikkyNikky45 · 04/03/2021 07:32

Thank you @mondaywine. I’ll phone his office if I don’t get any joy from Nicola Sturgeon’s office today. Do you know what he did to find your dad’s details? Thanks

Kerfuffled · 26/03/2021 13:39

OP, I know this was a few weeks ago but did this get resolved? I'm in a similar position with my parents who are 92 and 85 and being sent round in circles. I've contacted the MSP who is looking into it but still nothing is happening.