Boston a bonus - but we need a local centre

Anyone living within 45 minutes of the Princess Royal Sports Arena is eligible to use it although they can only attend if they meet the criteria for an actual jab and have been offered an appointment.

The over 80s and frontline NHS workers are still the priority although it is hoped to start contacting over 70s by the end of the week.

Some people in the Horncastle News area fall within that 45 minute limit for the Boston site.

However, a number of outlying villages don’t and there are also concerns about the scarcity of public transport.

There is still the option of using Louth Hospital which remains the nearest vaccine centre to the Horncastle area for many people, including Woodhall Spa.

There is also a facility at Spilsby.

Again, there are issues about actually getting to Louth and Spilsby.

None of the three centres come within the Government’s target that everyone will live within 10-miles of a vaccine centre by the end of this month.

However, help could be at hand.

Health bosses say a countywide roving service will be rolled out although no date has been set.

It is understood home vaccinations will also be more available to those who are self isolating or who have transport issues.

In addition, Lincolnshire County Council says transport is available for anyone who is struggling to attend an appointment.

Speaking at the opening of the Boston centre, Maz Fosh, Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: “The next steps are to roll out the programme further through a second large vaccination site and a roving service across the county.

“We are immensely proud of our team from across Lincolnshire’s NHS and partners, including local authority, military, and volunteering organisations to name a few.

“We will continue to keep the public updated as these become available.”

Regarding help with transport to appointments, a County Council spokesman advised people to contact a help line number on 0345 456 4474.

He said: “It’s not a new thing specifically for Covid/vaccinations but we want to let people know that they can contact the travel hotline if they’d like advice on how they can get to their vaccination appointment - if they don’t have their own transport.

“There have been a lot of changes to bus routes across the county since the first lockdown so it can be difficult for people to know which of their local buses are still running and at what times.

”Our friendly staff will have all the latest timetable information and will be able to explain people’s transport options, including the on demand CallConnect service.

“That is still operating and helping to fill the gap where people still need to make essential journeys but their usual bus service has been changed or suspended.”

East Lindsey District Council leader Coun Craig Leyland, a ward councillor for Woodhall Spa, welcomed the opening of the Boston centre.

He explained: “Some of our residents may receive a letter from the NHS inviting them to book a vaccination online or by telephone at the Boston vaccination centre.

“The letter goes onto say that if residents are unable to travel to the site they can choose to wait for notification from their GP to attend their local vaccination centre.

“Importantly, residents will not miss out on being vaccinated.”

Speaking last week - before the opening of the Boston centre was announced, Coun Leyland had joined the call for a more local centre.

In a post on his Facebook page, he said: “I know many residents are asking about the location of vaccination centres, especially given the PM’s recent announcement that residents should not have to travel more than 10 miles to access one.

“I have asked the question directly of the NHS if Woodhall Spa , Horncastle and Wragby will be having vaccination sites.

“At present, we have sites in Louth and Spilsby, with sites in Skegness and Mablethorpe soon to be operational.

“In response to my question, I was assured the location of sites would be under review.

“The priority is to vaccinate the most vulnerable and the initial travel parameters were met. (ie within a 45 minute travel radius).

“I will keep pressing the matter given that we have an older average age demographic and our rurality means transport is a challenge.

“I am pleased to hear that our MP Victoria Atkins is raising the matter too with the local NHS.”

Horncastle Mayor Fiona Martin questioned why there was no local centre.

She stressed it was potentially dangerous asking people aged over 80 to travel on what limited public transport is available.

Car sharing is not an option - unless the occupants are in the same social ‘bubble.’

Sources have told the News Stanhope Hall in Horncastle was initially identified as a site but was later removed from the list.

Brian Burbidge, a town councillor and chairman of the Hall’s trustees, said he had written to health bosses.

Mr Burbidge pointed out Stanhope Hall had successfully staged more than 800 winter flu vaccinations towards the end of last year.

He was backed by Horncastle resident Andrew Neal, one of several people who contacted the News about the distance involved in travelling to appointments.

Mr Neal is a patient member of the Horncastle PRG and ex-chairman of the East Lindsey Patient Group.

He has written to Dr Christopher Hyde, chairman of the East Lindsey Primary Care Network (PCN).

It is one of the largest PCN’s in the country in terms of area - covering 85,000 patients who attend GP practices from Caistor to south of Coningsby.

The PCN plays a key role in contacting people for vaccine appointments.

In his letter (which can be read in full on page 17), Mr Neal questions why only Louth Hospital was in use at the time.

He said: “Our PCN has over 85,000 patients and the population within East Lindsey has a higher than average number of elderly patients.

“As recent poor weather has shown, Louth - being on the other side of the Wolds - is not ideal as a single point for those who live in Horncastle, Woodhall and Coningsby/Tattershall.

“I understand the staff at Louth are doing a great job assisted by the Louth/Horncastle Lions.

“However, as we all know, Louth Hospital car park is on a hill and not large enough for even day to day use, let alone for a vaccination centre.

“Please may I request that you, as chairman of our PCN, represent us in the strongest and request Stanhope Hall in Horncastle is opened as a second centre.”

The Government has cleared pharmacies to carry out vaccines but Mr Neal said he doubted wether any local pharmacies met the criteria.

One retired pharmacist - who is still qualified to practice - told the News that he volunteered his services before Christmas only to be informed he had to complete 20 different training processes - including one on ‘conflict awareness’.

He said he had been contacted again recently and told the list of courses had been reduced to two.

He is planning to register as a volunteer and hopes to be asked to join any mobile or home rollout.