Patients told to travel 60 miles for Covid jab
ELDERLY patients from some parts of Kirklees are being asked to travel as far as Manchester to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.
In Huddersfield patients have been receiving texts from their GP practice or letters inviting them to make the almost 60 mile round trip to the nearest clinic in Manchester The Etihad Tennis Club.
One woman, who is classed as a vulnerable individual, said patients from The Grange Group Practice, which serves Deighton and Fartown, have been contacted regarding vaccinations and invited “to attend a clinic in Manchester”.
And in an email sent to a Kirklees Council’s health chief, seen by the
Examiner, one Huddersfield man raised concerns over how his vulnerable mother was expected to safely travel to and from the centre.
He said: “My mum is 85. She suffers from COPD, cannot walk far and uses a stick. She rarely ventures out at this time of year, irrespective of Covid.
“Since last March she has only been outdoors between six and seven times.
“Her NHS appointment letter came yesterday (Monday) and the nearest centre for booking is Manchester. How is she supposed to get there and back safely?
“It doesn’t appear that some basic questions have been considered concerning the practicality and safety for the group my mum belongs to.”
While many GP practices in the borough are handling their own vaccinations it appears some residents are being urged to travel out of the area because Kirklees does not yet have any large vaccination centre.
Last week, Greater Huddersfield CCG, the group responsible for organising the delivery of NHS services in the region, said community pharmacies will be starting to offer vaccinations in the coming weeks.
In addition, four large vaccination centres are currently being readied in West Yorkshire, with Matt Hancock yesterday confirming a vaccine hub at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium would be opening “in the next couple of weeks.”
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care made the statement in the House of Commons in response to a question posed by
Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley.
Mr McCartney said: “Mr Speaker, thousands of elderly and vulnerable people have already been vaccinated across Kirklees, but some of my constituents are rightly worried that they may have to travel to other parts of the country, to a large vaccination centre, to get their jabs.
“Can the Secretary of State please confirm that all of my constituents will be able to get their jabs locally? And when will the new vaccination Centre at Huddersfield’s John Smith Stadium be opening?”
In response, Mr Hancock said: “Well yes everybody will be able to get a jab locally. We’re committed to ensure that across England, there’ll be a local vaccination centre available within 10 miles of where everyone lives.”