"Husband with dementia was refused covid jab"

Dear cafeyt68,

thank you for providing this feedback. I am disappointed to hear your experience has not been as positive as we would like, and I also apologise for the distress and inconvenience experienced by both yourself and your husband.

The nurse overseeing the vaccination needs to ensure the person receiving the vaccination is able to understand and give permission which is why you would not be able to answer the questions for him. However, you should have been able to sit with him for support and comfort.

We will always try to obtain consent from the individual whenever possible, as we understand that those with dementia can have some days better than others, which may or may not be a factor here.

When the nurse assesses a citizen cannot provide informed consent, the nurse requires to see a Power of Attorney (POA) and Adults With Incapacity (AWI) certificate, as these provide the legal authority to proceed with vaccination.

I would like to reassure you that we have raised the issue of this not being on the appointment letters at a national level and requested that they be amended accordingly.

It would also be helpful to have your husbands details so I can discuss this with the particular staff involved to ensure everyone is following the correct process. I can be contacted on 01382 660111 ext 59181 where there is also an answer machine facility.