"Concerns re communication and vulnerabilities"

Concerns re communication and recognition of vulnerabilities - Covid vaccination

My mother is 93, lives at home by herself and suffers from diminishing short term memory. She remains in her own home as she is able to take care of herself with support from family and a carer. I have power of attorney of my mother’s affairs because of her diminishing short term memory and confusion at times and have been trying to establish when she will be receiving her Covid vaccine to no avail as on the website all it stated that a letter would be sent out as soon as possible. I raised concern with my mother’s doctor that my mother was likely to misplace any letters or forget a phone call.  They said they understood but that it wasn’t possible to offer any alternative form of contact.

I also wanted to ensure that I could be there with my mother as she had her injection to ensure that she was okay and didn’t feel vulnerable in any way.  I live close by to I can get to her easily.  Both myself and my mothers carer have been looking out for letters to confirm when her vaccination might be or where she might need to go to to receive it.  

My mother informed her carer today that someone had been in her house yesterday and had given her medicine. After discussing this with her doctor who then put me in touch with the district nurse I was informed by the district nurse that people over 80 were receiving no notification of time or date of their vaccination, but someone was just turning up at their home to vaccinate them.

I feel this is unacceptable and disrespectful of the vulnerabilities of someone in their 90’s living on their own. How does a 93 year old women feel certain that the person that has come to her door is a legitimate health care worker? How are we able to check that my mother is okay after the vaccine if we do not know that she has received it? My mother has had pains today and we were concerned why until she remembered later in the day that she ‘had been given medicine’ and we realised it was the injection. 

The care company that my mother receives support from has heard this has happened for a number of their clients and is concerned for them also.  They have heard that one of their gentlemen turned the vaccinator away as he did not know who it was and felt unsafe.

We are aware of the urgency of need to ensure people are vaccinated and the incredible pressure that the NHS is under just now, but feel this is an unacceptable way of proceeding with this vulnerable age group. We are very concerned there was no communication with my mother before the visit, or any recognition that there might be a need to contact a family member for someone who is in their 90’s. Also, where was my mother’s right to choose if she would like to have the vaccine? With someone turning up on her doorstep she would feel unable to make that decision.

I am sorry to be sending this complaint when the NHS is under such immense pressure, and has been doing such incredible work, but I feel that it important to share my concerns with you.