A Covid vaccination session planned in Leek for this month has been pulled after some patients faced a lengthy wait in the rain for their jab at a previous event.

An elderly man was unable to sit down while he queued in the rain and there were waits of two and a half hours for vaccinations at Leek Fire Station, Councillor Charlotte Atkins said.

She voiced concerns to health bosses and fellow elected members at recent Staffordshire County Council meetings and called for improvements to Covid booster provision for Staffordshire Moorlands residents. Peter Axon, the interim chief executive officer of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Integrated Care Board, apologised for what had happened at the September 30 event and said action would be taken.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the walk-in session at Leek Fire Station had been run and managed by NHS colleagues. They added: "Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to assisting our partners in the NHS with the continued roll-out of the Covid-19 booster vaccinations, as it has done throughout the pandemic.

"On this occasion, one of the rooms at the station was used by NHS colleagues as a walk-in centre for vaccinations, which opened at 11.30am. Unprecedented levels of attendances at the site saw individuals queuing in the area from 9.30am."

Another Covid vaccination clinic was due to be held at the fire station on Tuesday, October 25, but this session has now been cancelled. Other sessions are being arranged in Leek to enable thousands of eligible residents to receive their Covid booster and flu jab at the same time however, so they do not have to attend two separate appointments.

Dr Paddy Hannigan, clinical lead for the Covid vaccination campaign in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, said: "The walk-in vaccination clinic was extremely successful with 334 people getting their crucial Covid booster. We were delighted to see such a high turnout and continue to encourage people to get vaccinated to guard against a Covid spike this winter.

"With such high attendance, there is some queueing likely. Unfortunately the weather was poor on (September 30) and we'd like to apologise to anyone who felt their wait was too long.

"This was combined with a higher than expected turnout, and the fact that some people arrived over two hours before the vaccination session was scheduled to open. Unfortunately there was no cover to shelter from the weather but this would have applied to other potential venues in the town also with so many people in attendance.

"Fire stations have been widely used for vaccination clinics very successfully and we are extremely grateful for the logistic and other support provided by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Using the fire station has enabled other potential venues, such as Leek Moorlands Community Hospital, to concentrate on day-to-day business.

"However, because of the difficulties acknowledged above and to prevent any potential re occurrence we have decided that the scheduled clinic at the fire station on October 25th will not take place. Park Medical Practice have clinics arranged for thousands of patients during October to have their Covid vaccination together with their seasonal flu vaccine which is preferable to many people than attending separate appointments for each.

"We are also continuing to review what other options are available to improve Covid vaccine appointment availability in Leek which will be communicated to local people in due course. We're glad to say that Leek continues to have one of the highest Covid vaccination rates in Staffordshire."

Councillor Atkins spoke in July of a lack of walk-in Covid vaccination sessions in Leek. Speaking at this month's full county council meeting she said: "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."

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