People getting the coronavirus vaccine in Cardigan were “placed at risk” by being left unsupervised in the waiting area for the recommended 15 minute period after receiving the jab, an inspection has found.

Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) inspected the Mass Vaccination Centre at Cardigan Leisure Centre, along with a centre in Carmarthenshire, on 8 and 9 March.

The report, published on 27 May, found that inspectors saw patients who had received the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine “seated for 15 minutes post vaccination within a waiting area which was not appropriately overseen or monitored by staff”.

“Patients are asked to wait for 15 minutes post vaccination to monitor for side effects, however patients were placed at risk in the event of a medical emergency not being acted upon immediately,” inspectors said.

HIW said that “due to the potential impact on patient care and treatment these concerns needed to be addressed straight away, during the inspection”.

“A table and one member of staff were immediately placed within the waiting area to monitor all patients during their 15-minute post-vaccination observation time,” the report said.

“We were also told that the centre would ensure this area is monitored throughout every shift.”

The inspection of the Cardigan centre was held, along with another Hywel Dda Health Board facility at Halliwell in Carmarthen.

The report found: “It was evident that a significant amount of work had been undertaken at pace by the health board to provide temporary environments and sufficient capacity to deliver their vaccination programme.

“We were assured that, despite the unique environments of the sites we visited, appropriate arrangements were in place to enable them to function as mass vaccination centres.

“Patients who completed the HIW survey provided very positive feedback of their experiences at the centres.

“However, we did require some urgent remedial actions to be taken during our visits, and found that the governance arrangements underpinning the continuing safe delivery of the programme could be improved.”

Inspectors found that “volunteers and clinical staff spoke to patients in a friendly and respectful manner”; and “both centres allowed for safe social distancing, and the flow of patients throughout the centres was efficient and timely”.

HIW recommended the centres could improve privacy and evacuation procedures and “consider whether patients should be assessed for symptoms of Covid-19 before being allowed to enter the centres”.

As well as monitoring the patient post-vaccination waiting area, improvements were suggested in ensuring the “standard operating procedures for each centre to ensure they accurately describe the agreed processes for each centre”; and “ensuring vaccinators have completed the relevant training requirements”.