GP surgery in Selby district sets up flu vaccination site at airfield
Patients eligible for the free flu vaccination will not need to visit the main surgery building. The surgery, which is located on the high street in South Milford, comprises one entrance and exit and narrow corridors not suitable for the increased number of eligible patients expected though the doors this year.
Practice staff involved in developing the Sherburn airfield site for safe use worked with NHS England’s Time for Care team who supported the planning process. The team facilitated joint planning sessions to ensure the venue was fit for purpose to administer the vaccine to those individuals who may be elderly, vulnerable or at high risk to infection.
Stephanie Drury, Practice Manager at South Milford Surgery said: “We had seen the COVID testing sites and read about some surgeries doing child immunisations via drive-through and wondered what could work for us.
Our surgery car park is too small and so we had a look around the area for suitable sites. The Sherburn airfield was mentioned and we approached them for a conversation. They have been really helpful in letting us use the site for vaccinations for as long as we need, which will help protect many local patients from the effects of flu.
More than 1,000 eligible patients could be vaccinated at Sherburn airfield this October and the reduced visits to the main surgery will enable more social distancing space for health professionals to continue seeing patients with other health concerns.
Although the majority of flu vaccinations are happening away from the main surgery this year, Dr Steve Lovisetto, GP Partner at South Milford Surgery, stressed that day-to-day GP services are open, adding: “GP services are continuing safely at the main surgery and we encourage anyone with a health concern such as finding a lump in your body, discovering blood in your urine, if you’re struggling with your mental health or you’re due a cervical smear to get in touch for an appointment.”
The site will open on Tuesday October 13 and has already started receiving bookings from patients.
