GP surgeries gear up to deliver Covid-19 vaccine across Black Country and Staffordshire
GP surgeries across the region are gearing up to start delivering the Covid-19 vaccinations imminently.
It is believed some practices in the Black Country could start delivering the jabs to the most vulnerable patients as soon as early next week.
Dudley MP Mike Wood said the vaccinations at surgeries in the borough could be due to start as early as Tuesday, with more sites to be set up in the coming days.
Regional and national health chiefs have not yet officially confirmed the arrangements – but have confirmed patients will be contacted when appointments are available.
A spokesman for the NHS in the Black Country and West Birmingham said that a number of Primary Care Network (PCN) sites are on standby to go live and administer the vaccine, but details of the exact sites are yet to be publicly confirmed. PCNs are made up of GP surgeries.
When official confirmation was requested by the Express & Star, we were told more details would be coming soon but not yet.
Mr Wood, Dudley South MP, told the Express & Star: "I am expecting the first two sites to receive the vaccine next Monday and start administering it next Tuesday.
"The plan over the next few weeks is to get six sites running, six primary care sites that are GP and pharmacy-based, and the first two should be offering [the vaccine] from next Tuesday."
He added: "The Black Country Living Museum is being used for rapid lateral tests.
"That site will be expanded once the Oxford vaccine is approved and available so that the site can be used for both testing and vaccinating."
The Covid-19 vaccines arrived at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust on Monday morning, as it geared up to be the first site in the Black Country and West Birmingham to start administering them to the over 80s and healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust opened as one of the first Covid-19 vaccination hubs on Wednesday. The hub, based at Royal Stoke University Hospital, will focus on vaccinating patients who are aged 80 or over and care home workers first, as well as NHS staff who have been assessed as being at highest risk of serious illness from Covid-19.
Priority
Tracy Bullock, UHNM chief executive said: “We are delighted to be one of the first places in the UK to receive and administer the vaccine. It represents a momentous step in the UK’s response to the coronavirus."
A spokesperson for the NHS in the Black Country and West Birmingham said: “The NHS in the Black Country and West Birmingham has begun vaccinating patients against coronavirus this week at our first hospital hub in Walsall.
"Over the coming weeks we will stand up more hospital hubs and vaccination services from local GPs to ensure that all our communities have access to the Covid-19 vaccination.
"We will be in touch with patients as soon as we have appointments available in your area, you do not need to contact us or your GP.”
An update posted on Sedgley's Ridgeway Surgery's website on Wednesday said they will soon be contacting patients for vaccinations at the nearby Northway Medical Centre. It said: "We will soon be making Covid-19 vaccinations available to adults identified as being at highest risk of catching the disease and of suffering serious complication or dying from Covid-19.
"We will shortly commence contacting those patient aged 80 years and above to attend The Northway Medical Practice for a Covid-19 vaccination. Please do not contact the surgery for an appointment, please wait for our call.
"Vaccination will be free of charge and our highest priority is delivering the vaccines to eligible people as soon as the vaccine is available."
While the Wolverhampton North Network PCN confirmed the vaccine would be administered on-site at Keats Grove Surgery, in the Scotlands – although it has not been confirmed when it will start.
