A health boss has apologised after an elderly man had to wait more than two hours outside in the rain for a Covid jab.

Leek councillor Charlotte Atkins previously called for action to improve walk-in vaccination facilities in the town in the summer.

And she revealed at a Staffordshire County Council meeting this month that residents were still facing issues getting their Covid jabs after more than 300 people attended a recent walk-in session at Leek Fire Station.

Her comments came as Peter Axon, the interim chief executive officer of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Integrated Care Board, described the area's Covid vaccination programme performance as "excellent"

Mr Axon said: "The flu jab is now needed to be rolled out in parallel with the latest Covid boosters. By all accounts we are doing an excellent job, whether relatively compared to other systems, or absolutely in terms of the numbers that so far we have achieved in terms of vaccinations.

"We've got both fixed locations and roaming locations – vaccinations and facilities on wheels. We're hopefully covering all bases when it comes to vaccination this autumn and I would absolutely advocate and support the importance of individuals, particularly those with complex needs and conditions, receiving both vaccinations."

But Councillor Atkins replied: "I can't allow you to get away with saying the vaccine programme is going well. On (September 30), people were queuing for two and a half hours in the pouring rain outside Leek Fire Station to get their Covid jabs.

"One 86-year-old gentleman asked if he could possibly sit down – no you can't sit down, it is full. He was left in the pouring rain.

"What is the point of people getting Covid jabs if they get pneumonia in the first place? It's absolutely outrageous.

"I was told in this committee on July 11 that there would be a walk-in vaccination centre at Leek Hospital. So what do you do – you put it at the fire station.

"At the end of September, in Leek, the weather is not glorious. It rains, it is windy.

"We are talking about an elderly population here and you are expecting them to stand for two and a half hours. Take that back and sort it out."

Mr Axon said: "Clearly that's inappropriate as an arrangement and a situation, so apologies to that resident. I shall take that away and we will act."

Covid cases are once again on the rise nationally.

In a statement presented to Staffordshire County Council meeting on Thursday (October 13) the authority's leader Alan White said: "Getting the flu jab and Covid booster as soon as you are eligible is a good way to help protect both yourself and the more vulnerable in our communities this winter."

But Councillor Atkins, speaking at Thursday's meeting, said: "I publicised the walk-in Covid booster session in Leek and I'm sorry I did. Well over 300 people turned up and people queued up for two and a half hours in the rain.

"They queued all the way outside the fire station to the main road. Obviously the Midlands Partnership NHS Trust didn't think that we might have inclement weather.

"Rather than sorting out this shambles, the trust has cancelled the walk-in centre for October. Yet they run Leek Hospital, and Leek Hospital is completely empty apart from the MIU (Minor Injuries Unit) at weekends.

"So why aren't they using it? There is absolutely no co-ordination between the Midlands Partnership NHS Trust and the primary care network.

"Not everyone is able to jump in their cars and go from Leek to Buxton, Milton or Stoke on Trent for their Covid jab. We need a walk-in centre in a town of 21,000 and I urge the Midlands Partnership NHS Trust to get their act together and the primary care network to communicate better with their patients to make sure that they get their jabs in good time.

"This shambles does not encourage people to do the right thing and get protected."

Councillor Julia Jessel, cabinet member for health and care, responded: "I am aware from a discussion with Councillor Atkins about the issue in Leek and I am aware that there are some anomalies in the NHS system at the moment. We will raise that with the NHS."

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