Covid Vaccine - Temporarily locked

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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #722

    The first time i was Blue Lighted to hospital in 2019,when being discharged  many hours later ,the staff asked if they could call anybody to collect me, when i advised all my near family would be at work  and my wife was a non driver ,but she would come on the bus and we could go home together, they said you are not going home on public transport we will arrange transport ,a nurse escorted me to the main entrance, where a taxi driver took me to his car and brought me home  all on the NHS account ,as they said otherwise it could be be a long wait for the hospital transport 

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited January 2021 #723

    Looking after my elderly mother as she gradually descended into dementia, but still thought she could live independently, was the most difficult and stressful period of my life. Distressed phone calls in the middle of the night, constant falls requiring paramedics and overnight hospitalisation, obsessive behaviour, constant visits to the GP and other specialists for somebody to tick a box etc. It bought it home that, in that situation, you’re basically on your own - the social care system is broken. A residential home eventually bought some respite. It’s no wonder that group are proving a challenge to contact and vaccinate.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2021 #724

    I know how hard it can be to get somebody to an appointment. I took a house bound friend to several appointments. If he needed to change his shoes, socks, or occasionally trousers ang get a jacket on him that could take 20 mins or more even with my help. add 15 mins to travel to the car and another 5+ mins to get him into the car. 20 mins drive and another 15 mins to get him into  a reception area.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,042 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #725

    We thought it would be the safest option for Dad, two trained personal to help him in and out. Don’t blame the Ambulance service, or the Hospital to be honest. Just a lesson learned for us, easier to sort things yourself if you can. Although the hospital should have phoned us, we thought the hold up was for his medicines. Had no idea he was up where we found him.

    Its not easy for anyone at the moment. Some vulnerable don’t want help even though they need it. Some vulnerable aren’t getting much in way of family support, but reliant upon the kindness of local community. Some are doing very well learning new skills to fend for themselves a little more. Some have a full support network from family and friends where possible. I just hope that everyone who needs it, gets help of some sort.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,042 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #726

    Sounds familiar😁 Mum lives in a state of readiness most of the time. Hair done, nice clothes on, coat nearby. But then the ritual of checking her handbag kicks in, that can take 10 minutes. Then she insists on pulling all plugs out, closing curtains, checking the gas is off, are all the windows locked, doors locked......... And that’s with my Sister staying behind!😂 I just coat her up, grab her handbag and usher her into Jeep nowadays, she can fiddle around in there while I go back and check things, far easier. It can take half a day to get her into car for going on holiday, and then she will create havoc wondering if the fire got turned off! 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #727

    When we had the first big lockdown,two of the younger neighbors (not many in this area) did come knocking, and left thier phone numbers, also adviseing one of the Husbands Had to go to work every day but if we wanted any food ,he would be given a list to get on his way home each day,

    With the last and latest , it seems supermarket home deliveries have taken over for most ,but the young neighbors still make sure the rest of us are ok  and will phone if the curtains are late to be openedsurprised

    as happed over xmas when next door was taken to her sons but did not let anyone know? ,and did not open her curtainsundecided

    Lucky one of her sons was  known to be on social media ,before the police and ambulance were called ,another case of not thinking to adviseyell 

     

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #728

    Well actually I did, it's been less than a year since MIL died. And for the last five years she was house bound and the last three in a wheelchair and yes I fully know how difficult it was to get her to her appointments at the hospital.  Before she was fully wheelchair bound we did the transport but then had to reply on the hospital transport and yes we found out that they are not like a taxi often arriving first thing for a late morning appointment and then not being a return till late afternoon. But we manged and that was the only way to get her to and from her appointments.

    so yes fully know what you are talking about.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2021 #729

    What I did find useful when getting my friend into the X-Trail was a large plastic carrier bag I would push the front passenger seat back and place it on the seat. I could then help him to sit on the seat and it helped him swivel around as I lifted his feet in and similar getting out. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #730

    Yes there are but really you're clutching at straws IMHO comparing no shows in the leisure industry to receiving a treatment that may save your life?  I think no comparison at all. I would have thought the idea of living longer would motivate people more than showing up for a plane or campsite?

    Personally I think people who miss medical appointments without letting the surgery or whatever know are beyond comprehension yet it happens. My surgery displays a bar chart of missed appointment per month and it is staggering  to look at it. It is in the hundreds each week.

    But I think you are selectively responding to my posts. I have stated there are certainly good reasons that create these missed appointments. But statistically they are cropping up too much. So are you saying that 100% of these missed appointments are totally valid?

    Also we all have different viewpoints and we can state them politely without getting personal? What is the beloved CAMC line for? to belittle? And the personal remarks in the last line? Really not needed David, just present your views without them?

  • Unknown
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    edited January 2021 #731
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #732

    Ok I guess I've never know if you think 100% of those missing their appointments are valid then? smile

    The statistics are on here David.

    And I don't judge anyone as you well know, I merely give evidence.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #733

    Fury as Covid vaccines end up in BIN as patients miss vaccine appointments 

     


    COVID vaccines are being thrown away because patients are not turning up to their appointments. Council leaders said they were "appalled" after discovering many of the £39 injections were being wasted.

     

    Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said the vaccine programme had been "problematic" with people not turning up to their appointments.

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #734

    It'll be 20 years this year since we lost dad and I can only echo your experience! Sadly nothing appears to have changed in all those years. We've had similar experiences then and since. 

    One that made me laugh 🤬 when they discharged mum years ago, long story but won't go there!, the nurse went through all her pills stressing this one to be taken every x hours day and night. I questioned this emphasising she lived alone no nurse was adamant. She put pills in bag and then said we're a box of pills short - you've guessed it THE VITAL one! Wouldn't give me ward supply have to wait and get from GP............. I've learned to stand my ground politely but firmly.

    We made all our own arrangements for carers, taxis etc having learnt the hard way! I feel for those who have no one to stand up for them 😢.

    I expect the no shows, as dreadful as they are, will in most cases be genuine in this older age range. It's all anecdotal on here. As you say there are lots of folks who are fiercely independent and wouldn't dream of asking for help regardless. 

  • Unknown
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    edited January 2021 #735
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  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,599 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #736

    I am rather surprised that local social services haven't taken a bigger lead in organising transportation for these elderly people.

    Just looking at our immediate neighbourhood, there are OAP Council bungalows nearby. Out of the 2 dozen only 25% have their own transport. Buses stopped running through the village quite early on in the pandemic, neighbours, whilst happy in normal circumstances to lend a hand in giving someone a lift do not want another party not in their bubble in their own car and finally quite a lot of the elderly simply won't ask for help, often through misplaced pride. So if I know this why don't the people in charge of SS know it. Co-ordinate with GPs or Health Boards to make sure that the person who is given an appointment can actually make it. If not then put them on the first reserve list for the OAZ vaccine and send a District Nurse around to administer.

    Even in our own cul-de-sac there are 15 over 80s, 5 of whom would need someone to take them. I would normally quite happily give a lift to any of them but not at the moment, which is ironic as it's now that is the most important time.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #737

    My mil(now gone) was the same until i was advised of the same solutionsurprised

    A lot cheaper than the seat pad that swivelswink

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #738

    What's this relating to?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #739

    Co-ordinate with GPs or Health Boards to make sure that the person who is given an appointment can actually make it. If not then put them on the first reserve list for the OAZ vaccine and send a District Nurse around to administer

    yes +1

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #740

    Our LA run a service for those who need transport ,it just a phone call away and the mini bus arrives with two staff with a lift at the rear for buggys/ wheel chair and those who have dificulty with stairs, we have four older council residents bungalows  at the end of all the cul de sacs in our road

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #741

    With the amount of carers that are seen  visiting in this area ,it may be a good idea if they are also trained to administer vacines ,as well as pill and other meds some of their "customers "need

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #742

    We have a community car system in place because of the Covid situation and no buses due to fibre optic cable laying. However the appointments organisers haven't availed themselves of local information. Since the first small round of vaccinations the village has put reminders out to households.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #743

    Does it run at the weekends? Ours doesn't and vaccinations are being offered throughout the week including weekends. 

     

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited January 2021 #744

    New chippy giving away Fish & chips for 10p a pop👍🏻. It would cost too much to get to Dagenham for me🤷🏻‍♂️☹️

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,042 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #745

    In the 20 years since my MIL needed lots of help, to today with Mum requiring similar services, things have changed an awful lot. I know the answers to a lot of why, but it’s not for this forum.

    All you can do is take advantage of whatever arrangements you can. We have tried quite a few in the last few years, including paying to private care companies. The staff were lovely, but you didn’t get much for the amount you paid out, and it wasn’t finding it’s way down to the carers, they were on just above minimum wage. This was a big nationwide company as well, with very good CQC reports and ratings. 

    It’s very hard with Covid. A taxi ride adds a risk, a bus adds a risk, trying to walk adds a different risk.

    We had District Nurses occasionally looking after Dad for certain things, mainly to keep him out of hospital. Five years ago their resources were stretched to the limit. I suspect even worse now.

    If anything huge and good comes out of Covid, I hope there will be a root and branch review of NHS provision, and that Care is included as part of it, as there’s no doubt it would help if they were linked. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #746

    I think there is no point giving out an appointment unless while at the same time they ask if they can get to the place and arrangements being put in place if they can't.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #747

    In the case of MIL when she was alive ,any appointments she had, be it one she made herself? or a letter from any part of the NHS  we would be advised by her probably ,if we were lucky? when she got the letter or OH noticed it when visiting ,or a carer called us to advise there was an appointment on the horizon ,or a call from MIL on day of appointment that she had one ,and needed to get thereundecided

    It would be the same now if she had a phone call about the covid she would say ok to it then ring us to say,to take her undecided

  • Unknown
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    edited January 2021 #748
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,042 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #749

    It did indeed happen in Yorkshire, Bradford back in September. 45p for fish and chips and a side order of Covid. 🙄

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2021 #750

    A small part of a much longer three hour queue for vaccination. It is somewhere on outskirts of London area ad we had similar scenes in Llandudno. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2021 #751

    I would happily take an elderly neighbour for an injection.