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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Katie-Ann Gupwell

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board apologises after delays at vaccine centre sees elderly people forced to stand outside in the cold

A health board has apologised after people faced delays in the bitter cold while waiting to receive their coronavirus vaccinations.

Pictures from the vaccination centre, in Abercynon, show various people queuing to get their jabs on Monday - and many of them were elderly.

Eyewitnesses said some people had to wait an hour or more before they were able to get inside.

A man, who asked not to be named, explained he didn't think it had been well organised. Despite this, he said the people working at the site were trying their best to help people.

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He said: "They have 70+ year old people queuing outside Ty Trevithick. I’ve brought a gentleman at 11am and 10am clients hadn’t been seen.

"It's two degrees and there was an old gentleman with oxygen tubes and pyjamas on. There's nowhere for the elderly to sit except for a couple of chairs for the few.

"The armed forces and other people working there are doing it tirelessly....and trying their best."

It was recently confirmed that the centre would be increasing the number of Covid jabs given out.

Just days ago the health board confirmed the Community Vaccination Centre in Abercynon,  Rhondda Cynon Taf, would be open seven days a week and increasing its capacity - meaning more people can be vaccinated and more quickly.

But, on Monday, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board issued a statement apologising for delays at the site that had been reported on Monday, January 25.

The statement said: "We are aware that people have faced delays in waiting to receive their vaccination at Abercynon community vaccination centre today. We are deeply sorry for this and would like to apologise.

"Please be assured, our teams there are vaccinating people as quickly and as safely as possible, and everyone who has a booking today will be vaccinated.

"We are urgently looking into why this has happened, however we do know this issue is not connected to the closure of the four CVCs yesterday due to adverse weather. Thank you all for your understanding at this time."

When asked about the situation on Tuesday, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said it would like to reiterate its apology.

A spokesperson also said the team are asking people not to turn up at any of the health board's community vaccination centres - Abercynon, Bridgend, Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil - any earlier than five minutes before their appointment time. 

According to the health board, everything was running smoothly at the centres again on Tuesday.

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