Two more primary care COVID-19 vaccination sites opened for Derbyshire patients this week, as Newholme Hospital in Bakewell and Long Eaton Health Centre both began vaccinations.
The two sites joined other primary care sites in Dronfield and Ripley, which became the first primary care vaccination sites in the county last week. They followed the opening of hospital hubs at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Royal Derby Hospital a week earlier.
Long Eaton Health Centre
Arthur Marriott, an 81-year-old Breaston resident, received his first Covid-19 vaccination at Long Eaton Health Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Arthur, a lifelong Nottingham Forest supporter and season ticket holder, said, “I feel great and I’d say to anyone don’t hesitate; do it for the community. But I’ll still be taking precautions and won’t forget hands, face, space.”
Arthur is looking forward to watching football from the terraces when things return to normal.
Vaccinations at Long Eaton are being coordinated by the Erewash Primary Care Network (PCN), which is a collaboration of 13 practices from Long Eaton, Ilkeston and surrounding areas.
Dr Duncan Gooch, who is one of the PCN’s Clinical Directors and a GP at The Golden Brook Medical Practice in Long Eaton, said the vaccinations had begun well and patients were positive about the experience.
“It’s been a really exciting day. We had our first patients come through at around 9am this morning, and we’ve been through several hundred in the day,” he said.
“The reaction from patients has been fantastic. People are absolutely delighted to have been called up to receive the vaccine, and many are just grateful that there is a health service out there to support them.
“Patients have been really positive, and we’ve had some great interaction with them. Lots of these people haven’t been out of the house very often, so coming out and speaking to people has been a real perk for their day. They’ve overwhelmingly said it’s been an easy procedure and much less painful than they expected.”
Newholme hospital
Baslow couple (pictured) Jim (84) and Pat Reeves (84) were among the first patients to receive their vaccinations at Newholme Hospital on Monday.
