Glasgow doctor urges NHS to consider car park flu vaccines
Dr Kevin Connaughton is certain it would be safer than having vulnerable people walking in and out of GP practices.
A Glasgow doctor is criticising the NHS and says they "aren't listening" to advice on conducting flu jabs outdoors to benefit those most at risk of coronavirus.
Dr Kevin Connaughton is adamant asymptomatic Covid-19 carriers will regularly infect vulnerable people when heading to, and from, his Bridgeton surgery.
The GP reckons jabs could easily be done in a sheltered brickwork area just outside his practice, protecting people from the elements but allowing for enough wind to "disperse" dangerous particles away from patients.
This approach has been adopted in several regions in England such as Surrey and Somerset, and has even been set-up in car parks of quiet sports stadiums and supermarkets.
However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has told Clyde News the outdoor approach isn't under consideration, much to Dr Connaughton's discontent.
He said: "I can find no rationale for their decision.
"A number of bodies have told us Coronavirus is well dispersed by the atmosphere and wind.
"They include members of WHO and Professor Chris Whitty has suggested vaccinating in car parks would be a good idea, as well as the Royal College of General Practitioners.
"I wrote to our Glasgow health board in the summer about doing this as we have the advantage in Bridgeton of having covered bays that protect against rain but allow air to circulate.
"This plan has been rejected and the only indication seems to be that health and safety wouldn't allow for it."
He continued: "Bridgeton health centre has very poor ventilation.
"Inevitably with large numbers of people coming to the health centre, some of these people will be asymptomatic carriers and spread the virus in this area.
"This is where we're inviting people who are chronically unwell and vulnerable to Coronavirus.
"For that reason, I want us to do the vaccines outside to make sure the virus is well dispersed to minimise the risk to those patients we are giving the vaccine to."
Not only is the rejection of his proposal causing Dr Connaughton confusion, he says the lack of discussion around it has left him baffled.
He said: "What's surprising is that we had very little discussion from the health board.
"We wrote to them and were given a rejection with absolutely no dialogue.
"It's confusing, disappointing and it really makes me worried about the organisation they're going to provide over the next few months, which I think will be a horrendous winter of illness for Glasgow.
"We've already done very badly with our figures during the first wave of the virus and I'm expecting the winter from Hell with the second.
"I think death numbers will be much higher."
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesperson said: "Planning for this year's adult flu vaccination programme in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has and continues to focus on a system wide approach to delivering this year's programme.
“Delivery in car parks has not been a consideration in our planning to date as the venues secured for this year's programme all allow appropriate physical distancing. Furthermore, we have to consider the health and safety of our staff and patients and given the unpredictability of the weather during late autumn/winter months, it would not be prudent to have an outside venue.”