12-strong team jabbed 19,000 – at snooker club
A MANSFIELD pharmacy technician has spoken of the challenges her team has faced while providing thousands of Covid-19 vaccines from a snooker club – while receiving online praise from those receiving jabs.
Lauren Meehan has been part of a small team at Orchard Pharmacy who have been working throughout the pandemic to offer their medical services to the public, sometimes working up to 17 hours a day to meet demand.
Orchard Pharmacy, on Sutton Road, Mansfield, is the largest dispensing pharmacy in the area.
Ms Meehan, 30, has been working with other staff at a makeshift vaccination site at The Towers on Botany Avenue, Mansfield.
The site has administered 19,000 jabs despite struggling early on with vaccination supply shortages.
The pharmacy team – which consists of just 12 workers – have been working tirelessly to provide vaccinations while also running Orchard Pharmacy.
Ms Meehan has said that the response from locals who have been vaccinated has been touching, with patients posting their support online, even though the work has been challenging.
Ms Meehan said: “Honestly, the past two years have been very difficult for us.
“We spoke to the owner of The Towers and he let us use the function room downstairs as our vaccination centre.
“We got the NHS contract, we employed volunteers, paramedics, nurses, pharmacists and then we got about 15 admin staff all within the space of about four weeks. We’ve done all that as well as running the dayto-day goings on at the pharmacy – it’s been a challenge but
I think everybody pulled through.
“We’ve had to adapt just in general. The normal pharmacy site has changed a lot due to all the restrictions and you know we’ve had Brexit and trouble getting hold of stock.
“We had problems with the vaccine delivery at first - because there was a shortage problem they were only sending around 50.
“Within about two or three months though it became a very well-oiled machine.
“At the beginning we were doing it over the weekend. But the staff would be there for 16 or 17 hours constantly.
“I’ve been working pretty hard too. I hope we get a good Christmas do this year – we need it!
“I think we’ve done really well and everybody should be dead proud of themselves for what they have achieved.
“There’s only 12 of us. It’s not like we’re a massive team.”
Orchard Pharmacy currently holds a rating of 4.7 stars out of 5 on Google reviews with many positive reviews left by people who have received their vaccinations through the good work of the pharmacy.
One review, left by Tracey Beaver, read: “Fantastic service by the Orchard Pharmacy Stockwell gate team at the Towers Covid-19 vaccination centre. Extremely professional, friendly and slick organisation.”
Another, from Sue Smith, said: “I received my Covid vaccine from this team – incredible, friendly service and wonderful people. Thank you so much.”
The Towers, a snooker and pool club and party and wedding venue, was happy to offer the premises as a vaccination site during the lockdown period.
Manager Chris Walker, 54, said: “We were happy to donate part of it and we were also able to donate car parking in the first lockdown for the army to do testing.
“As far as we’re concerned, it all went well.”
Within about two or three months it became a well-oiled machine
Lauren Meehan from Orchard Pharmacy