Calls for Stithians Showground site to be used as Covid vaccination hub
GP surgeries say it has already been used successfully for flu clinics
A group of GP surgeries in Cornwall are calling for the Stithians Showground to be used as a site to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations.
Carn to Coast Health Centres, which runs the Pool Health Centre, Homecroft Surgery, Trevithick Surgery and St Day Surgery, says it is waiting for approval on a location that can be used to vaccinate patients.
Bosses say nearly 1,000 vaccines will be required to be given over three days, but they are worried that the surgeries themselves do not have enough space in entrances or car parks and so delays or disruption could be caused.
In a statement on its website, Carn to Coast says that its preferred site would be the Stithians Showground, which has previously been used for flu clinics, but the NHS has not yet approved the site.
The surgeries say they are continuing to work with NHS Kernow to determine how they can deliver the vaccine.
"We continue to receive enquiries from patients regarding the roll-out of the Pfizer Covid vaccination following the recent issue of a licence for it to be deployed. We shall therefore be advising patients of the position here on the news section of our website (and on Facebook) and keeping this information up to date as the situation develops.
"The vaccine is being made available to groups of GP practices. Our four surgeries (Pool, Homecroft, Trevithick and St Day) are grouped together with Praze-an-Beeble Surgery.
"The vaccine, when available, is to be offered in ten minute appointments to our most elderly patients and the current advice is that those patients should remain on site for 15 minutes after receiving the jab. It is a requirement that nearly 1000 vaccinations should be given at a single site over 3 days, with a second injection 21 days later to be booked along with the initial appointment.
"Most practices in Cornwall still await approval from NHS England as regards a site for delivery of the vaccine to patients. Clearly many of our patients over the age of 80 would expect to arrive by car and all of our surgery sites have single relatively narrow entrances and limited space for cars to park at or close to the entrance. We are aware of the very considerable delays and disruptions this could cause at any of our sites.
"Our preferred site is therefore the Stithians Showground which was used very successfully for flu clinics earlier in the year. Unfortunately NHS England have so far indicated that they are not ready to approve that site. We would like to thank those patients making suggestions re alternatives but, from what we have learned so far, there would be major obstacles to having any of those taken forward.
"We are continuing to work with NHS Kernow with a view to determining how best we can deliver the vaccine effectively and will keep you advised."
Carn to Coast Health Centres