Mass Covid-19 vaccination centre to open at St James Hospital in Milton

The vaccine supercentre at St James’ Hospital in Milton will go live in the next couple of weeks to support the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

As reported by The News yesterday, The Hive is recruiting vaccine wellbeing volunteers to help run the centre seven days a week.

Dr Dan Baylis, chief medical officer at Solent NHS Trust, who are running the vaccination centres, said: ‘Coronavirus has been the single biggest public health emergency in NHS history, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who was involved in setting up the vaccination centres across the county and on the island.

‘This continues to be such a challenging time for NHS colleagues, and it is testament to the hard work of everyone across the NHS that we are able to deliver this at the same time as continuing to be there for everyone who needs care.’

In a bid to reduce traffic issues around the hospital, in Locksway Road, Portsmouth City Council will implement a one-way system for the traffic with marshals helping to direct people.

The entrance will be via Locksway Road and people with appointments can then park on site for their vaccination before exiting to the north via Edenbridge Road.

A small number of car parking spaces will be suspended on Locksway Road, between Ironbridge Lane and Morgan Road, from 7am to 9pm each day. More suspensions may be put in place if required.

SEE ALSO: Hope for swift vaccine rollout as Hampshire care homes record most Covid deaths since May

Councillor Lynne Stagg, cabinet member for traffic and transportation said: ‘The temporary centre will be vital in ensuring that we can all be vaccinated against coronavirus, which will in turn pave the way back to a more normal life.

‘I appreciate this could cause some inconvenience to those living, working and going to school in the area. However, I hope that people will be supportive as we work with the NHS to do all we can to reduce the spread of coronavirus and to ensure that residents in the region get the vaccine as quickly as possible.’

Southsea Medical Centre will also go live to give the Covid-19 vaccine to patients.

To volunteer at the centre register at volunteer.hiveportsmouth.com/

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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