COVID-19 Update - NHS Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes CCGs
Date Added: 15/12/2020
National Update
Last Tuesday was an important day for the country, and the latest world first for the NHS – joining IVF, hip replacements, robotic surgery, gene therapies, CT scans and other pioneering developments.
Thanks to an incredible amount of hard work and planning, the largest vaccination programme in our history started at dozens of hospitals across the country, marking the first early step on the path back to normal life for the country.
While we are moving quickly, this will be a marathon, not a sprint. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and highly effective, but it is complex to move, store and prepare.
That’s why initially it will be given in hospitals, before being carefully rolled out to local vaccination services run by GPs, pharmacists and practice nurses, and in people’s homes and care homes if they can’t come to us.
Those hospitals are vaccinating the first patients who would benefit most like those aged 80 and above, and care home staff and residents.
More and more people will be contacted over the coming days and weeks, as well as protecting those NHS staff who are at greatest risk.
We have been recruiting and training tens of thousands more vaccinators and support staff from across the NHS and outside of it, all of whom will be trained, assessed and supervised.
Colleagues across the NHS have excelled themselves over the past 10 months, and they are ready to step up yet again to deliver this safe and effective vaccine.
But the public also have an important part to play to help them deliver this effectively to those who need it most.
Our message to the public is therefore:
- please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;
- when we do contact you, please act immediately, and attend your booked appointments;
- and please continue to follow all the guidance – hand hygiene and social distancing in particular - to control the virus and save lives.
Local Update
Watching Barbara and Arthur Simper, the first patients from our area, being vaccinated at our vaccination hub at Milton Keynes Hospital felt like a huge breakthrough and we look forward to seeing more of our most vulnerable patients, care home workers and ‘high risk’ NHS staff passing through the hub in the coming days and weeks to receive their vaccinations.
Milton Keynes Hospital was selected as a vaccination hub in the first instance, because of the complex way in which the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored. However, we are working to provide more locations that can carry out vaccinations, including some in primary care settings, so that we can offer the vaccine to more people in the near future. We will keep you up to date with information around this, as soon as we are able.
Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, will be among the first to receive the essential jab.
MKUH will also begin inviting over 80s in for the vaccination and work with care home providers to book their staff into vaccination clinics.
Any appointments not used for these groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID. All those vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.
A small number of GP-led primary care networks across the country will begin providing vaccinations to this first group including care homes.
Vaccination centres treating large numbers of patients in sporting venues and conference centres will subsequently stand up when further supplies of vaccine come on stream.
This leaflet explains who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from Coronavirus.
Booking your COVID-19 vaccination
We are inviting all local people who are aged 80 years and over to come and have a COVID-19 vaccination at Milton Keynes University Hospital.
If you are 80 years old or more, please call us on 01908 997878 to book your vaccination.
Please only call if:
- You are over 80
- You do not have coronavirus, are not displaying symptoms and are not self-isolating
- You had your flu vaccination more than 7 days ago
- You do not require hospital transport.
- & If you know your NHS number, please have this to hand.
Appointments will take 30-45 minutes and will be held at the Academic Centre, which is located opposite the hospital main entrance and next to the multi-storey car park.
When you come for your appointment please bring:
- ID
- Reading glasses (if required).
See details on free parking and what to expect when you get here.
Milton Keynes University Hospital is also proactively contacting over 80s to invite them for vaccinations and are working with partners to help eligible patients that do require transport to safely get them to the vaccination centre.
The hospital is currently the only vaccination centre for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
Infection Rates
Infection rates are rising in our region at an alarming rate. It is essential that members of the public keep to the rules and wear masks, wash their hands and maintain social distance.
If it continues at the rate it is increasing at the moment we run the risk of being re-designated as Tier 3 with all the restrictions that brings.
Mass Vaccination volunteers
The mass vaccination programme is a crucial part of the NHS response effort to Covid-19 because it will enable the population to return to a normal way of life, and potentially protect our front line health services from additional pressure and surge. We are building a volunteer workforce that will be vital in supporting the mobilisation and operation of our vaccination sites across BLMK, ensuring the smooth flow of patients through the vaccination process.
We are looking to fulfil a number of support roles:
- Front of House/ Administration
- Stewards and Patient Flow (indoors and in car parks)
You will be provided with all the necessary training, support and PPE appropriate to the roles. You do not need a clinical qualification/background to undertake these roles as full training will be provided. If you can get involved email [email protected] to register.