STAFF at Dollar Health Centre have booked 1,500 flu jab appointments for patients who did not receive their appointment letters in the post.

The mammoth effort was triggered after a blunder, said to be entirely outwith the health centre's control, which meant none of its patients received their appointment letters.

NHS Forth Valley began rolling out its winter flu immunisation programme a few weeks ago, offering additional support in the form of a helpline for advice.

The importance of the jab has been underlined by health professionals, with officials in Dollar pulling out all the stops to make sure everyone who requires it can still receive it.

In an announcement last week, the health centre said: "Due to an issue entirely outwith our control, letters regarding a flu appointment have not been issued to patients registered with our practice.

"The practice [is] working very hard to support the health board [to] remedy the situation."

In a further update also issued last week, the health centre confirmed that after a Herculean effort, hundreds of patients have now been scheduled for the jab.

The update said: "The team have worked our socks off over the past three days to book approximately 1,500 flu appointments in Alloa Town Hall, after we were told the unfortunate news that our patients had not received their letters from the health board.

"Thank you to our patients who have been so polite and kind you made the task much easier."

It added that anyone over the age of 65, or under that age but in at at-risk category, should contact the surgery this week (October 19-25) to arrange an appointment.

And families of those shielding, and of patients aged 55-64 with no risk factors, will be contacted by NHS Forth Valley at a later date.

The Advertiser contacted NHS Forth Valley about the fact no flu jab appointment letters were sent to patients registered with Dollar Health Centre.

In response, a spokesperson said: "The issue has arisen through the national flu system which issues appointment letters but Dollar Health Centre and NHS Forth Valley have been working together to resolve the situation and appropriate arrangements have now been made."

Speaking last month about the importance of getting the flu jab this year, NHS Forth Valley's Director of Public Health, Dr Graham Foster said: "The more people get vaccinated against flu, the more it will protect the population, and help our NHS avoid the pressure that a spike in seasonal flu would put on top of Covid-19.

"By everyone playing their part, we can help stop the spread of the flu virus this winter."