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Bedworth, UK, Jan 21, 2021- - Huge demand for a vaccine call centre yesterday led to major frustration for many who tried in vain to book a coronavirus jab.

CoventryLive understands the call centre was flooded with calls from hundreds of people yesterday (January 19), meaning many could not get through.

Health bosses have apologised to residents who kept trying to book a jab at the Bedworth Civiv Hall - including a 93-year-old pensioner who spent his whole day trying to get through to secure a vaccine for himself and his 88-year-old wife.

They assured them more call operators have now been drafted in to help, and say they will focus on making calls to those who have yet to be offered an appointment.

But they urged people also to only call the number if they had received a letter.

Staff at the call centre did manage to book in the full capacity of appointments yesterday, but simply could not handle the sheer deluge of calls.

A spokesperson for Warwickshire North CCG, which is overseeing the work being undertaken by the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust to run the vaccine centre at the Civic Hall, appealed to people to only call the call centre if they have received a letter.

"We would like to apologise to those patients affected by an issue with the new call centre for the Bedworth Vaccination Centre," the spokesperson said.

"We acted quickly to fix the issue, increasing the number of call handlers and the capacity of the phone system. Our focus is now on telephoning those affected to invite them for a vaccine.

"People could help us, and only telephone the number if they have received a letter and not pass it onto anyone else. Only those in the JCVI defined cohorts (those aged 80 and above) will be able to book an appointment."

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Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net

Date Posted: Friday, January 22, 2021