Concerns over access to Covid vaccine boosters have been raised after Midlothian Community Hospital reduced its service to weekends.
A report to Midlothian Council's performance review and scrutiny committee today revealed that the county's Covid spring booster campaign saw more than 85% of people eligible take up the jab.
However a decision to move the weekday service from the community hospital at Eskbank to Rosewell Steading, led to claims it could see a drop in uptake as the winter vaccine campaign gets underway.
READ MORE: Dalkeith residents vision for their post pandemic town centre taking shape
Councillor Bryan Pottinger, ward member for Midlothian East, said the facilities at the community hospital had been great as he welcomed the high percentage of people being given the booster in the first quarter.
However he said: "If Midlothian Community Hospital is not available I think many of my constituents would see it as less of a priority to travel west to get these vaccinations done.
"We are all aware of the poor public transport links between east and west so the people in Mayfield and Easthouses, yes they could get a bus to Gorebridge, but to ask people from Mayfield and Easthouses to travel to Penicuik or even Rosewell would be difficult for many of our most vulnerable constituents."
Councillor Pottinger asked why the community hospital could not have remained an option, even on a part time basis
Grace Cowan, head of primary care and older people services at Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said the vaccine service had moved from Midlothian Community Hospital during the week into Rosewell Steading but weekend appointments were still available at the hospital.
And she said they have also moved into Penicuik YMCA to deliver continued Covid boosters and this year's flu vaccine and have some access at Gorebridge Leisure Centre.
She said: "If you get an appointment out and you can't make it, if your appointment is in Edinburgh or somewhere you can't reach, there is a number on the card that you can phone and get an appointment at a more appropriate place.
"That might mean there is a bit of a wait but unfortunately it is out with our control."
Ms Cowan said appointments for boosters were issued through a national service which Midlothian health chiefs had no control over.
Responding to questions about stopping vaccines during the week at the community hospital, Ms Cowan said: "We had to stop clinics at Midlothian Community Hospital during Covid to give us the access but now we have to restart those clinics for older people in Midlothian to access care, so it is a balancing act."
READ NEXT:
Midlothian couple can keep shutters as only one side of street in conservation area
Midlothian opens books of condolence as tributes are paid to Queen Elizabeth II
Former Midlothian library site to be turned into low energy social housing
New Midlothian homes rejected as 'undesirable' by Scottish Ministers
Taxi fares in Midlothian to go up for first time in six years
