A HOUSEBOUND pensioner with a chronic lung problem is demanding to know why he has been unable to get a flu jab for over a month.
Retired mill worker Albert Goulding, 79, said his life would be at risk if he contracted the virus, as he has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which means he has to spend 24 hours a day on oxygen.
Over a month ago Mr Goulding, of Hodder Street, Darwen, was sent a letter by the NHS reminding him to have a flu jab, as he was at an at-risk category.
He said: “I am completely housebound and on oxygen all the time, so I struggle making an appointment at Darwen Medical Centre.
“I have a community matron come to see me about my COPD every week but I have been told she is not allowed to give me the jab because of red tape.
“Then my cleaner very kindly offered to take me, my oxygen tank and wheel-chair up to the practice to get one done, but when I rang up, I was told the next appointment was November 29.
"It’s not on at all. If I get the flu, it could kill me.
"If this is affecting me, then it will be affecting all those others who are housebound.
"We are being left till the last, when we should be the first because we’re most at risk.”
Medical director at NHS Blackburn with Darwen, Dr Malcolm Ridgway, said: “We have well-established arrangements for housebound patients to be vaccinated at home either by their district nurse, or if they are not on a district nurse caseload, by their GP practice.
“The flu vaccination programme runs through to January and we are currently working to ensure that all patients who cannot travel to their GP surgery receive their annual flu vaccination as soon as possible.
“The district nurse teams are currently working through the lists to arrange the home visits.
“And we would like to reassure all patients who are unable to attend GP surgeries that they will be contacted shortly.”
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