Patients aged 80 and above have started receiving the vaccination against COVID-19 in South-east Shropshire.
The local Primary Care Network, which is made up of nine local GP practices, started to offer the vaccine at the Bridgnorth Medical Practice on Tuesday 15 December 2020, and expects to deliver nearly 1000 vaccinations by the end of the week.
GPs and their teams from across the 180 square miles covered by the nine practices contacted eligible patients over the weekend to invite them to book appointments, and then joined forces to deliver them in the spacious Bridgnorth practice.
Maureen Lloyd celebrates her 83rd birthday next month and is registered with a GP in Ditton Priors, some 18 miles from Bridgnorth. She said: “I think I was the fifth patient today to receive the vaccine and I’d like to thank everyone at my GP practice for making sure we are all being booked in. Like most people my age, I really don’t want to get the virus, so while the vaccine is important, we must all continue to stay safe and be sensible to protect ourselves and everyone around us.”
The community service comes just one week after the opening of the Hospital Hub at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Patients are prioritised according to government advice and must have an appointment to receive their vaccination. Patients without an appointment cannot be seen as all booking slots are allocated before arrival.
Dr James Swallow, GP partner at Bridgnorth Medical Practice and Clinical Director for South East Shropshire Primary Care Network (PCN), said:
“We are glad to be welcoming people from across the area, many of whom live in rural communities, to take up the opportunity to receive their vaccination at a location close to home. This saves them from travelling longer distances to one of the counties larger towns.
“Patients over the age of 80 are our priority at this time and it’s great to see that they are very enthusiastic and pleased to be offered their vaccine so soon after it has been made available.
“Colleagues in all roles across the nine practices have been fantastic in getting this service up and running over this weekend and in starting delivery today.
“The vaccine is a fantastic opportunity to restore a degree of normality. I would encourage anyone offered the vaccine against COVID-19 to step forward when asked to do so.”
Health chiefs from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin will stand up more vaccination services over the coming weeks.
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