Corby GP surgery begins offering Covid vaccination appointments after pre-Christmas hitch

Corby's biggest GP surgery is now in a position to begin offering Covid vaccinations almost two weeks after plans were scuppered by a last-minute NHS hitch.

The huge Lakeside Healthcare practice in Cottingham Road - one of the largest in the country - had been put on stand-by by NHS England to begin to deliver vaccines on December 21 and staff spent hours booking in patients.

But just days before the rollout, which would have seen almost 1,000 vulnerable people have a first dose of the Pfizer jab and some form of protection before Christmas, the practice was informed by NHS England that there was an ‘equipment issue’ and asked to stand down for reasons out of their control.

Lakeside was then asked to be ready to deliver vaccines this week although they were told there by the NHS there was a chance they wouldn't be ready - but now the super-surgery has confirmed it is in a position to offer the vaccination.

Today (December 31) a spokesman for Lakeside Healthcare told the Northants Telegraph: “We are proud to be delivering this approved Pfizer vaccine to our patients and playing our part in this huge national effort to protect against coronavirus.

"It has taken a huge amount of work to get to this point and we would like to publicly thank our team for making this vaccine possible at a local GP practice level."

The surgery has been contacting eligible patients to book appointments and has urged patients not to contact them but to wait.

The spokesman said: “In line with the national guidance, our first round of vaccines are going to those aged 80+ and we have been contacting all eligible patients and asking them to make appointments. As and when we are advised by NHS England to move on to other cohorts, those eligible patients will be contacted.

"As you can imagine, we are incredibly busy delivering these vaccinations as well as running our usual practice operations. So, we are urging patients not to contact us but wait until they are contacted and invited to make an appointment.

“If you are invited to book an appointment to have the vaccine, we would urge you to take up this opportunity. For any patients who have booked their appointment, there is further information and guidance on our website and Facebook page, which covers what to expect upon arrival and answers some of the most frequently asked questions.

“This is good news and brings hope at the end of what has been a turbulent year for all of us.”