FLU CAMPAIGN AT THE BRINSWORTH AND WHISTON MEDICAL CENTRES
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY
Jan VENKATRAMAN
It was for all - Win win win !!
What a wonderful situation to be in!!
As we head into winter each year, primary care centres around the country are busy planning on how to protect the vulnerable in the society from the winter blues and help alleviate winter pressures on the NHS.
FLU CAMPAIGNS are organised country wide to achieve this.
This year it was a bigger challenge and vital for patients “at risk” to get vaccinated against flu due to the unprecedented situation of the PANDEMIC
A lot more planning was required to ensure all Government guidelines were met for keeping staff and patients safe and COVID at bay. This perhaps was the first time practices were considering using outside venues and other alternatives.
After months of planning and much deliberation, as the Managing Partner of Brinsworth & Whiston Medical Centres, I decided to contact Sue Widdowson, the Manager at THE CENTRE (formerly Brinsworth Community Centre) in Brinsworth to explore the possibility of working in collaboration with them for this venture
Sue very kindly, instantly agreed to support us, in the interest of the community and plans went ahead
Very kindly - I reiterate as the committee allowed us to use the venue at NO COST to the practice
One way patient traffic, social distancing, face coverings et al were adhered to
Being within the premises, weather was no threat to us – patients did not have to wait and were in and out in a couple of minutes
Colour coded stations were set up for the purpose of ease of identifying their allocated clinicians
Our Whiston residents were offered appointments at their preferred site used as a walk through too.
SO WHO WERE THE WINNERS?
The PATIENTS most importantly
· They could come to a centrally located venue without any fear.
- A safe and friendly atmosphere
- Personal touch as it was their own practice staff
- Evening appointments were offered to those working.
- Those eligible were offered vaccines against shingles and pneumonia too at the same time.
The PRACTICE
We could vaccinate over 1800 patients in a short span of time – much shorter than in yesteryears and earlier too!! adhering to all guidelines and required standards at no extra cost. We took the opportunity to update patient records as well.
THE CENTRE – how did they benefit in spite of giving the venue to us at NO COST?
People who had not seen the venue after the recent refurbishment due to the PANDEMIC had an opportunity to see the new facilities and use them they certainly did!!
MOST OF ALL – the COMMUNITY OF BRINSWORTH - it was a pleasure to see the joy on their faces on seeing their friends many of them after six months of shielding and then deciding to have a cup of coffee together in the CENTRE’s CAFÉ
The camaraderie, community feeling was unbelievable and a pleasure to experience.
ALL in ALL an immense sense of satisfaction
A BIG THANK YOU to the CENTRE’s committee, our Nursing and reception team and management for making this possible not forgetting the kitchen staff of the CAFÉ and our AMENABLE COMMUNITY !!!
This is what patients had to say
“First class service and very safe”
“I was only in for 1 minute from entering to going out of back door inoculated – BRILLIANT”
“Very much appreciated going to the CENTRE – quick easy & safe”
“Very well organised”
“Fast efficient & friendly”
And many many more...
A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF MAKING THE BEST OUT OF THE WORST!!!