SOME patients were not told that moves to open a new mass vaccination centre in Cwm Cou had been delayed, leading to missed appointments, it has been claimed.

Hywel Dda University Health Board announced last month that Cardigan’s mass vaccination centre at Teifi Leisure Centre would move to Yr Hen Ysgol Trewen to allow building work to take place at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi.

But a spokesperson for the health board has confirmed to the Tivy-Side that the move has been delayed.

“Cardigan was due to close on July 25, but no opening date had been set for Cwm Cou. So, when it was unlikely the new centre would be open for the weekend of July 31, we re-opened Cardigan again for walk-ins and some rescheduled appointments,” she said.

“We’re hoping to confirm an opening date this week for Cwm Cou.”

But Helen Babbs, 35, an agricultural journalist from Newcastle Emlyn, suspects she is just one of a number of patients who were not informed of the change of plan.

“I had an appointment for my second jab booked for 7.10pm on Friday, July 30, but when I arrived, there was nobody around and no vaccination centre set up,” she said.

“It was simply a deserted old school building, with a skip full of rubbish outside. There was no sign explaining the situation or anything.

“I had received no update about my appointment location. When I tried to ring the health board Covid helpline, it had closed for the evening.

“Although the shift from Cardigan to Cwm Cou was widely publicised, there was only a one-line note on the Cardigan centre webpage about the delay, and I had to search to find it.

“I don't know if anyone else has been affected, but while I was at the Cwm Cou school site at least two other cars pulled up and then drove off.

“It's inconvenient to say the least, especially when we are being urged by the health board to be vaccinated.

“I'd asked a family member to give me a lift as I was unwell after my first jab, so didn't want to drive myself. It was a waste of their time too.”

The facility at Teifi Leisure Centre was the second mass vaccination centre opened by Hywel Dda to enable the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in December.

The scheduled move to Cwm Cou was "to allow building work to take place at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi."