VIDEO: Vaccine joy for Llanelli GP - as Swansea Bay Health Board pleads for patience
Dr Dai Hickman has given his first jab today -instead of end of month after Hywel Dda turned round dose delivery times
Last updated 14th Jan 2021
A Llanelli GP who feared he wouldn't be able to join the Covid-19 vaccination rollout until next month has given the jab to his first patient today.
We raised awareness about Dr Dai Hickman's plight after he was initially told he would not be able to place an order for his allocation until January the 25th.
Hywel Dda Health Board has reacted quickly and has shared a quota of vaccines from one its managed practices.
Dr Dai has headed to a care home which has been covid-free the entire pandemic to give residents their first.
He said: “The health board did respond, it took on board the concerns raised by myself and others as to the roll-out policy. They decided to have a rethink and in fairness to them they listened and they reacted.
“I think the NHS often does get a reputation for being quite a clunky, creaking organisation that can’t sort of reverse direction or change ideas very quickly, but credit where credit’s due the health board took on board the concerns and has reacted swiftly to amend their roll-out policy.”
Two-thirds of critical care patients in Wales have Coronavirus
Yesterday Public Health Wales reported over 101,371 people in Wales had received the first dose of the vaccine.
But there were 66 new deaths with the virus here.
It’s as NHS Wales Chief Executive Dr Andrew Goodall warns Covid is taking its toll on all areas of the health service in Wales:
“Nearly two thirds of critical care patients currently have Coronavirus. Fifteen percent of ambulance calls are for Coronavirus, and we’re receiving ten percent more 111 calls because of the pandemic.”
He said his greatest fear was for intensive care:
“Units are under enormous pressure as we continue to see people who are very sick Coronavirus being admitted to critical care across Wales.
“There are now 150 people in critical care units with Coronavirus. This is the highest level that we have seen during the second wave.”
"Be patient" - Swansea Bay plea to over 80s
Swansea Bay Health Board have also issued a plea for people to be patient as they have a limited supply of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
Almost 14,000 people in the Swansea Bay area have now received a Covid vaccination
These include care home residents and some people over 80 who do not live in care homes.
The health board says the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine - which is more suitable for community use as it’s easier to store and prepare – to pass on to GPs.
This means only some over 80s have been sent a vaccination appointment and we know this is causing anxiety among those still waiting and their families.
A statement said:“But more over 80s will be contacted by letter or phone next week as vaccine supplies increase. Please be patient.
“Our goal is to have vaccinated all over 80s in our area, around 24,000 people, by the start of February.
“Rest assured we are doing all we can to protect the most vulnerable in our communities as quickly as possible.”