May I express a contrary view to last week's correspondent on the roll-out of the vaccine at Gateway House (Craven Herald, March 18)?

My wife is shielding (she has stroke, dementia and heart problems) and the only other time she had been out of the assisted living complex where we live in recent months was to attend Skipton Hospital for the first dose on December 22. On that occasion it was delivered to both of us in the car.

When we arrived at Gateway House on March 12 for the second jab we were told it was not on offer in-car. Instead she was transported in a wheelchair by a well-meaning but inexperienced volunteer through cold wind and sleet into the building. There we spent about half-an-hour amongst crowds of people - very disturbing for someone already challenged by confusion.

If vaccinations cannot be offered in-car then I must insist that two experienced professionals are essential for transferring people to and from the centre (in Limestone View where we live the NHS insists that these staff are provided for taking my wife around the flat). In addition, a special area should be set aside in Gateway House for those with mental health problems.

But why was an in-car service not provided? I have friends in other parts of the country who have no disabilities who are receiving the vaccine on drive-in sites - much cheaper to hire a car park than an office block and providing a much more private service.

I suspect our health authority has been blinded by the opportunity for mass vaccination into ignoring the claims of a dementia-friendly alternative.

John Killick

Settle