Well, it’s been a while dear reader, but the rant is back, and I hate to say it’s all things COVID! But, there’s nothing else going on in the world after all!

Earlier last week, I sat down with my nurses and worked out a plan of action to sort out second doses of our beloved COVID -19 vaccine for our nursing home and housebound patients of which we have over 100.  I’d got all the dates organised, emailed the nursing homes, sorted out the vaccines – everything was going to plan, and then, I received an email stating that the second dose absolutely couldn’t be given before Day 77 (this contradicted an earlier email that my nurses had received, but it actually wasn’t that bit that got my hackles up) it was this bit: “1^st dose (Day 77 onwards) and no earlier. They are using information on Foundry to track this”

So, “using the information on Foundry to track this” actually means behaving in a Big Brother-like manner and making sure we toe the line.  Now, I know that evidentially, the second one should be given at a particular time and I don’t have a problem with the data changing – all COVID has done is change week by week – but is there ever a need to threaten us with someone sat in their Ivory Tower watching our every move, making sure we behave?

In organising our visits, I have done everything I can to ensure that my clinicians don’t work over Easter.  We all absolutely need a break – us included.  I tried to manipulate our sessions so that we’d have a nurse visiting doing these jabs, without too much impact on my existing service provision.  Now, I’ve had to go back to the drawing board – and that’s fine – nothing is insurmountable as far as I’m concerned (World Domination is on the cards for 2022, believe me!) but do not threaten me with ‘tracking’.  How very dare they!  They will not find my data lacking, nor will it be incorrect – what a shame we can’t say the same about MYS!

And then, if that wasn’t enough and as if my blood pressure was already not sky high, I drive home to hear that the BBC had had sight of a letter that suggested there was an issue with the delivery of vaccines for the next four weeks. I was aware there was a webinar where this was going to be discussed, but the point of my rage is that the webinar was taking place at 6.15 pm that night – and yet the BBC had already seen the letter!

I actually parked up and sent a Tweet. I know – my rage knows no bounds – you should see me when I’m really angry. I don’t turn green AKA The Hulk, but it’s not pretty – ask my husband!

As a co-founder of IGPM, I know we’re making headway, but we’re not at the top table yet – and to be honest, it can’t come soon enough.  We cannot continually be the last people in the chain to find out about stuff like this when in fact, we’re the first people that Joe Public contacts.

Mr Hancock can spout all he likes about the issues with deliveries and what they are doing to sort it – but when he comes to Cornwall on holiday (because he booked it during lockdown after telling everyone else not to) I shall be looking out for him. Trust me!