A West Lothian pensioner was forced to build a ramp outside his home in order to ensure his wheelchair-bound wife was able to receive her coronavirus booster jag.
The 75-year-old, who lives with a heart condition, had to construct a makeshift structure on the front step following a series of aborted attempts to schedule a vaccine top-up due to technical hitches.
The woman, who does not want to be identified, received her initial two jags of the covid shot at home, however all additional injections must be administered at a vaccination centre.
But technical difficulties meant the appointment could not be scheduled, despite a phone call claiming a house call could be made, later causing panic when the woman received a slot due to a cancellation at her local facility earlier this week.
Speaking to the West Lothian Courier, the woman’s daughter said: ““My mum is 76 and has multiple health conditions but the main one is rheumatoid arthritis.
“Sometimes she is unable to even hold a fork.
“My dad phoned the number on the letter but it was a national line. They told my dad someone would be in touch to make arrangements to come out to the house.”
“She has been housebound for a number of years and had her first two vaccinations at home which were organised by her GP surgery. But this time around everyone is getting a letter with an appointment for a vaccination centre. Why are they sending these letters to housebound people?"
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reassured the public the booking problem was fixed.
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “These are elderly, vulnerable people who need vaccinated and it is simply not good enough that the national booking system has been down for this amount of time.”
