‘No one left behind’ 19 local jab sites now in operation

THE final three of 19 local coronavirus vaccination centres across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have opened, setting up NHS staff to ‘move through the priority groups at pace.’

The 19 sites in what is known as the primary care network - GP surgeries and health centres - are in addition to the mass vaccination centre at Ashton Gate Stadium and the hospital hubs at Southmead, the BRI and Weston General.

The last three to open were Fishponds Family Practice, the Knowle West Healthy Living Centre and Lodgeside Surgery, which all began their clinics on Saturday, according to the Clinical Commissioning Group for the region.

They said it means that every neighbourhood area in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire now has a GP practice vaccination centre, meaning anyone going for a vaccine should not have to travel too far.

People on the different priority lists of patients who will get the vaccine first could now get two invites - one to Ashton Gate, and another to their local GP or health centre - and in theory get the choice of where they want to go.

Local GP surgeries have also been focussing on getting the vaccine into care homes, as well as innoculating NHS staff and carers, too. Dr Katrina Boutin was among the team vaccinating at Lodgeside Surgery at Cossham Hospital near Kingswood at the weekend. She said if people had not yet been contacted they would be soon.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted to now be giving the Covid19 vaccine to our population,.

“We have been booking appointments in line with the national prioritisation guidance, and we are asking everyone to be patient, and not to contact us or your local practice if we haven’t contacted you yet. We want to reassure people that if you haven’t yet been contacted - please don’t worry, we will be in touch very soon.”

Some of the GP-led sites are also organising mass vaccinations of frontline health and care staff, including the Greenway Centre in Southmead, which vaccinated 1,000 health and care staff on Friday and Saturday.

Next week, Bridge View Medical, a group of GP surgeries across BS3 in Bedminster and Ashton, Knowle West Healthy Living Centre and Lodgeside Surgery will do 3,500 frontline staff between them, alongside their registered patients who are over 80, and the staff and residents at their local care homes.

Dr Neil Kerfoot, a local doctor and part of the team co-ordinating the vaccination programme, said he wanted to reassure people that no one will be ‘left behind.’

“It’s fantastic news that all vaccination sites in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are now up and running.

“This should allow us to move through the priority groups at pace.”

The 19 local vaccination centres:)

» Kingswood Health Centre, Kingswood

» Riverbank Medical Centre, Westonsuper-Mare

» The Greenway, Greenway Community Centre, Southmead

» Pudding Pie Lane Surgery, Langford, North Somerset

» Healthwest, Clifton College Preparatory School Hall

» Bridge View Medical Marksbury Road Branch, Bedminster

» Horfield Health Centre, Horfield » Brockway Medical Centre, Nailsea West Walk Surgery, Yate

» East Trees Health Centre, Eastville

» Christchurch Family Medical Centre, Downend

» Shirehampton Group Practice

» Portishead Medical Centre

» Severnview Family Practice, Thornbury

» Stockwood Medical Centre » Concord Medical Centre, Little Stoke