Veterans abused on vaccine front line
VETERANS lending their support to assist Covid-19 vaccination hubs faced verbal abuse from some car drivers.
Several members of Veterans In Communities (VIC), based in Haslingden, have been providing car parking marshals at the vaccination sites in Rawtenstall and Accrington.
Operations Manager Bob Elliott said: “Our members have been doing an outstanding job in some quite challenging weather conditions and some unwarranted comments from car drivers who did not like where they were being told to park; however they continue to soldier on.”
On a Thursday and Friday the veterans, in full PPE, have been carrying out two shifts to make sure cars are parked safely at Rawtenstall Primary Care Centre on Bacup Road, and also helping at the Acorn Primary Health Care Centre in Accrington.
Bob added: “The vaccination programme is the only way we are going to get back to some form of normality, so this is one of the reasons VIC wants to support the initiative.
“When we formed in 2012, one of the main aims of VIC was to support the local community by using our unique experiences and skills.”
Andy Laverty, strategic manager for Rossendale Primary Care Networks, emailed VIC to praise the work of the volunteers, saying: “The input of your volunteer marshals has been great. Please pass on my thanks. Well done all.”
One local resident Shumel Haydar took to Facebook on the Rawtenstall Past Present & Future page to praise the veterans.
He wrote: “I took my elderly father today for his first dose of the Covid vaccine at Ilex Mill Medical Centre. From start to finish, it was a very pleasant experience.
“Was greeted on the main road by volunteers from VIC.
“They did a superb job of directing us where to park, then other members of VIC informed us where to go next.
“Choosing VIC to do this task is a very wise decision - these guys have direct experience of combat scenario - so this was second nature to them.”
A letter from Chief Officer Dr Julie Higgins, from NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group, to all volunteers who have helped out thanked them for the time and effort they have put in.
She said: “There is no doubt that our doctors, nurses and other health staff are equipped professionally to respond to the challenges of the coronavirus, but contributions from organisations and members of the public such as yourself have contributed to a combined community effort in these unprecedented times and has ensured that the safety of health and care workers, staff and patients has remained paramount.”
VIC also helped to prepare the Rawtenstall centre for opening by collecting chairs from Irwell Medical Practice in Bacup and the East Lancashire NHS Trust HQ in Nelson.