I took my father and mother to Kirkcaldy to have their booster Covid and flu injections. Both use a stick as unsteady on their feet. It was a cold day and they had to queue outside for 10 mins before allowed inside. On entry, a very abrupt member of staff asked questions them questions, not allowing for the fact that they might be hard of hearing and/or confused. We were directed to seats where they had to wait for almost 90 minutes before they were seen. After 1 hour and 20 minutes after the appointment time, they finally had injections. Initially there appeared to be no system for calling people forward, with a member of staff seemingly picking people at random. Eventually, they had an iPad and started calling people by name. They stood in a corner, blocked by a pillar, so the majority of people couldn't hear them. I asked them to move to the front of the room so we could see and hear them. A member of staff came out soon after, the first person to apologise and explain about the delay. They spoke loudly and positioned themselves so everyone could hear and see them. There was no allowance for those who might be diabetic. There was no consideration for those who might need to take their medication (no water available). No thought for those who were missing lunch (these were mostly elderly people who were not expecting to wait 90 mins to be seen). Finally, after the injection I asked where the toilets were and was told they were not for customer use, for staff only. After a 90 min wait you can't possibly expect that elderly people would not want to use the toilet. After pleading that my Dad was desperate to go, a nurse kindly escorted him. I understand that staffing problems can arise, but all in all this was a very poorly organised event. My poor parents were extremely stressed and upset by the whole experience. Apart from the lovely nurse administering the injection and the member of staff who took over the calling of the names, I saw no regard or respect given to the elderly and often frail people in this room, many of them on their own. I found the whole experience shambolic.
"Covid Booster centre in Kirkcaldy"
About: NHS Fife / COVID-19 Vaccination Service NHS Fife COVID-19 Vaccination Service
Posted by severitygm54 (as ),
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