Councillors join calls for city centre Covid vaccination site
Debate over lack of central jab venue continues to rage on
The lack of a major vaccination centre in Chichester has promptedquestionsfromdistrict and county councillors.
Since January 4, thousands of vaccinations have been administered by St Richard’s Hospital,andGP-ledservicesare runninginTangmere,Selseyand Pulborough,withMidhurstnow online too.
But, in a district with more than 120,000 people, the call for alargercentrehasbecomelouder over the past few weeks.
Jamie Fitzjohn, county councillor for Chichester South, has asked the NHS West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) why County Hall cannot be used.
InalettertoCEOAdamDoyle, hesaid:“Ourresidentsarescared as they have been told for nearly a year now to shield and stay safe. They have been instructed not to use, if possible, public transport,taxisorsharecars–as theyareconfinedspaces–bythe NHS and Public Health England but now are expected to ignore this advice and travel to Selsey and Tangmere?”
Mr Fitzjohn provided a long list of reasons why County Hall wouldbeanidealvaccinationsite. This included the fact it has five entrances via the front, east and west doors and through two committeerooms;ithasparking spacesonsite,lavatories,asecure WiFi network and plenty of rooms for the various needs of the medical team.
On top of this, the staff areas cannot be reached by the public and it is not far from St Richard’s Hospital, should there be an emergency.
The subject was raised at a meeting of the district council last Tuesday.
Thanking everyone who has been following social distancing and isolation rules, chairman of the council, Elizabeth Hamilton, said the council recognised the concernsthattherewasnomajor vaccination site within the city.
A spokesman for the Sussex Covid-19VaccinationProgramme said: “We are aware of the feedback and strength of feeling about the location of vaccine services in Chichester.
“The way in which GP vaccinationservicesaredelivered has been agreed at a national level and each area is typically allocatedoneGP-ledvaccination site.
“Working with local GPs, we explored where we could best offer the vaccine to people in the Chichester district.”