"On October 7, the NHS set up their gazebo in the car park of Tesco's Seaton to administer the booster vaccinations for Covid. It was promoted as a Walk-In session and many elderly residents took advantage of this facility but the queue was four hours long with no seating, a wheel
chair was obtained from Tesco's for one lady by her husband as she could no longer stand. 

"Upon attending it became evident that there were booked appointments, this was very good except that most of the older age group are not computer literate and therefore are unable to pre-book. 

"Added to which there was no cover and when a very heavy shower came down the persons waiting in the queue were soaked to the skin, let alone the gazebo housing the NHS staff and where the injections were administered was blown over

"This is not acceptable, we do have a Hospital which we are told is underutilized and yes I do realise that there is a cost to opening just a part of it for six days a year but surely the Logistic Department of the NHS could find a better site, under cover with some seating available or is this an effort to discourage us from taking up the Covid booster, it does make you wander."

Joan Ayres, via email

"On behalf my client and many elderly people of Seaton, we visited the covid and flu vaccination centre at Tescos carpark on Monday 7th October at 10am. To my surprise the queue was very long. However spirits were up and people were determined to get their covid and flu jabs.

"An hour later, into waiting a lady behind me passed out and had a terrible bleed to the head. A ambulance was called and a wheelchair brought out for her.

"She then had to hold a dressing to her head, whilst a nurse kept an eye on her.

"An hour into our experience the tent that the nurses were administering injections blew away across the road towards the petrol station. By this point it was just disbelief that this was happening.

"Another hour later the heavens opened and gusts of winds were strong, the rain was torrential. After three hours my client finally received his jab.

"I truly hope the lady was o.k and that the ambulance arrived and has made a full recovery. As to whether the brave eighty/ninety year olds, those with disabilities and wheelchair users all got their jabs after standing strong and being patient for so long.

"We came away in disbelief as to what we had witnessed over the three hours. I understand the doctor surgeries are not issuing jabs this year which has left some with little options to gain access to these vaccinations.

"The question is why our lovely local hospital couldn’t be used for this procedure?
As it has done over the past few years.

"It would have kept people warm, comfortable and provided seating to those who needed it and refreshments close by.

"The good people of Seaton would have willingly volunteered to support this essential procedure."

Lindsay Hughes, Seaton