Sleaford councillor calls on political leaders to press for Covid vaccine site within the town

So 15 Covid vaccination sites have been named by county NHS officials as being up and running or due to be open by the end of this week, but so far gaps in provision remain in the Prime Minister’s plan to have most residents within 10 miles of a site by the end of the month.

Sleaford, Heckington and Ruskington are outside the range of any of these sites so far positioned in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham and other towns such as Market Rasen, Wragby and Tattershall are also missing out, meaning those elderly residents are being expected to travel up to 16 miles for a jab.

Coun Kate Cook, county councillor for Sleaford told The Standard: “Whilst I am pleased that 15 COVID-19 vaccination sites are being set up around the county, I’ve written to the MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, Dr Caroline Johnson, the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council and the Executive County Councillors at Lincolnshire County Council responsible for Health and Adults asking why we don’t have a COVID-19 vaccination site in Sleaford at the moment, if one is planned and if not, if pressure can be put on the Clinical Commissioning Group (for Lincolnshire) to get one set up as soon as possible.”

The CCG represents GP networks across the county and is co-ordinating the roll-out of GP-led vaccine centres.

Coun Cook is yet to receive a response.

She said: “Boris Johnson has said that everyone in the country will be within 10 miles of a vaccination centre by January 15, yet despite being one of the largest towns in the county and being branded as ‘the Heart of Lincolnshire’, Sleaford residents are currently being asked to travel to Grantham for their COVID-19 vaccination which is more than 10 miles away - in fact, the vaccination site in Grantham is more than 15 miles away from the centre of Sleaford.

“Many elderly and vulnerable people don’t have a car and are worried about car sharing, getting a taxi or travelling on public transport due to the risks of being infected with COVID-19.

“There are many potential central locations in Sleaford for a vaccination site and if one were to be set up, it would save thousands of residents from being expected to travel to Grantham to receive their COVID-19 vaccination.”

A spokesman for Lincolnshire CCG said: “The next steps for the county’s NHS is to roll out the programme further through two large vaccination sites and a roving service across the county. The NHS will continue to keep the public updated as these further sites and vaccination services become available.

“The vaccination services in Lincolnshire, as in the rest of the country, are focused on delivering the vaccines to the key priority groups (residents in a care home for older adults and their carers, those aged 70 and over, frontline health and social care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable) to ensure that we are able to meet the targets set by the government.”

The government has also now given the go ahead for around 200 Boots and Superdrug pharmacies around the country to begin doing covid jabs, where they have the space to accommodate safe social distancing and have the capacity to deliver thousands of jabs each week.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire, the patient watchdog for the county, said today (Thursday) that vaccination centres have been set up to comply with health and safety requirements including social distancing. They added: “It is worth noting that unfortunately at this stage not all 85 GP surgeries in Lincolnshire are able to offer the vaccination at their surgery.

“Healthwatch is urging residents not to telephone their GP Surgery for information about when they are likely to be invited to receive their vaccination.”

Dean Odell, Healthwatch Contract Co-ordinator said: “We understand that many people are keen to get vaccinated, but please don’t call your GP surgery, all this is doing is blocking the phone lines of already stretched services.”

He said: “Please don’t worry, everyone will be offered a vaccination and when it is your turn you will definitely be contacted and given a date, time and venue where to go.”

He also recommended to not just turn up at one of the vaccination centres without receiving your booking confirmation, if you do you will be turned away.

Healthwatch added that it is aware that one of the larger vaccination sites still to be announced will be in Boston, this should be up and running within the next couple of weeks.

If you have any further queries or concerns contact: Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). The service can be contacted at: 0300 123 9553. Email: [email protected] The service is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (Except Bank Holidays).