Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out (13)
The UK Government has just announced that it has secured sufficient supplies of the Covid vaccine to ensure that all adults in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland can be vaccinated by July 31 2021.
Now that sounds like excellent news to me even if the SNP is bound to find something to carp and complain about.
Who knows - maybe the SNP's Phillipa Whitford will be put forward to explain her party's position.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 11 (17/02/21)
Does the SNP really believe that Scotland (and the rest of the UK) should move at the same pace as Europe when it comes to the roll out of the Covid vaccine?
I think we should be told.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out (12)
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 11 (17/02/21)
Does the SNP really believe that Scotland (and the rest of the UK) should move at the same pace as Europe when it comes to the roll out of the Covid vaccine?
I think we should be told.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 10 (15/02/21)
I don't know who negotiated a rate of £66 an hour for Covid vaccinators, but it doesn't seem like very good value for the public purse especially when NHS nurses are being paid so much (£50 an hour) less.
"Under a deal agreed by the Scottish government in November, NHS boards are authorised to pay them £230 per three-and-a-half-hour session — the equivalent of £66 per hour. General practice nurses, who are among those to voice anger, receive £13 an hour."
Read the full report via the link below to The Times.
Scots nurses voice anger as medics cash in on Covid jabs
General practice nurses make £50 less an hour than private contractors to administer vaccines - Photo JANE BARLOW
NHS nurses on the front line in Scotland’s vaccination roll-out have raised questions over private contractors earning up to £1,000 a day.
Opposition politicians, union officials and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have been warned of growing resentment among nurses after it emerged that dentists, optometrists and pharmacists are paid five times more to deliver vaccinations.
Under a deal agreed by the Scottish government in November, NHS boards are authorised to pay them £230 per three-and-a-half-hour session — the equivalent of £66 per hour. General practice nurses, who are among those to voice anger, receive £13 an hour.
It is claimed that some contractors who have never injected patients before are earning more than £920 for working 14-hour shifts. The rate covers expenses such as travel and food, but it has led to bitter complaints from experienced nurses.
Concerns have also been raised that NHS staff cannot secure shifts because contractors have booked them weeks in advance. Bruce Crawford, an SNP MSP, has written to health secretary Jeane Freeman on behalf of constituents.
Donald Cameron, the Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said it was understandable nurses would feel “aggrieved” at being sidelined or paid less. “I urge the health secretary to listen to their concerns,” he said.
Freeman said last month that the country would need about 3,400 vaccinators, with government officials insisting that it was “vital” that as many health and social care staff as possible were encouraged to join the effort.
However, one nurse said she refused further work after a 12-hour shift last weekend at Glasgow’s Louisa Jordan hospital. She said: “What I witnessed was appalling. Optometrists either side of me and not a clue — I pulled them up several times for technique in injection.
“It’s a disgrace. I vaccinated over 130 and them, 40 to 50. I’m lucky to come out with £100 for today and they get well over £1,000. Shambles.”
Norman Provan, of RCN Scotland, said: “We are aware of some concerns around the levels of pay and access to shifts. We have raised these with the Scottish government.”
The Scottish government said: “All staff employed to work on the programme are paid in accordance with nationally set terms and conditions, and are working to agreed job roles, which come with specified rates of pay.”
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 9 (12/02/21)
I don't have a problem with the authorities using up Covid vaccine that would otherwise go to waste - makes perfect sense.
But I would like to know who is responsible draws up these standby lists as it doesn't seem very fair that only those and such as those are 'in the know'.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 8 (12/02/21)
An interesting graph from Nick Freeman which seems to show the Covid vaccine is having a big and beneficial effect.
All the more reason to scale up and speed up Scotland's Covid vaccine roll out!
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 7 (11/02/21)
The Daily Record reports that a new Covid vaccination centre in Motherwell has closed just weeks after opening, but the official explanation is just pure gobbledegook.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 6 (09/02/21)
The Courier, Times and Scotsman all carry reports about Scotland's vaccine roll out - from long queues to a GP surgery receiving leaflets instead of the vaccine.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out (5)
Good news and not so good news on the Covid vaccine roll out.
A neighbour received her first vaccination at the weekend, but her husband (who is a few years younger) was not vaccinated at the same time.
Compare this experience with friends in London who were both vaccinated on the same day despite the difference in their ages - see posts below dated 01/02 and 02/02.
My London friends have also been given a date for their second vaccination on 9th April 2021 - just two months away.
If readers have any news to share about the vaccine roll out, drop me a note to: markirvine@compuserve.com
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 4 ((07/02/21)
I responded to James Dornan, a Glasgow MSP, who tweeted his thanks after receiving a Covid vaccination at the weekend:
"Pleased to hear that, but at 67 you've been vaccinated ahead of my brother-in-law who is 75 and vulnerable!"
I think it's great people are now being vaccinated in large numbers, but there's no doubt Scotland has been slow to get its act together.
Scotland's Vaccine Roll Out 3 (04/02/21)
My brother-in-law who is 75 and lives in Glasgow has still not been contacted about his Covid vaccination.
As far as I can tell two different systems appear to be in operation (one through local GP surgeries, the other via a national vaccination network), but he appears to have fallen through the cracks in the system.
Enquiries are currently underway to find a solution.
Vaccine Roll Out - London Calling 2 (02/02/21)
What's even more impressive about London's rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine is that my two friends were both given an early April date for their second vaccination - as well as both being seen on the same day for their first jab.
Let's see how well Glasgow does.
Vaccine Roll Out - London Calling (01/02/21)
I phoned an old friend of mine in London yesterday to wish him well on his 70th birthday.
He's going for his Covid vaccination today and his wife, who's a few year younger than him, is being vaccinated at the same time.
Now that is impressive.
