GP Practices focussing on vaccinating clinically vulnerable
GP practices are currently focussing on the vaccination of people aged 16-64 who are clinically vulnerable. As a result, if you are over 65 you may experience a long wait to be vaccinated at your local GP vaccination clinic.
If you are over 65 and haven’t yet had your coronavirus vaccine you can do this now by contacting the national booking service via www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination or by calling 119.
By contacting the national booking service you will gain access to flexible appointments at other local vaccination services seven days per week from 9am – 11pm.
Further details about local vaccination services are available at www.cheshireccg.nhs.uk
Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic Volunteers required in Middlewich
Anyone wanting to volunteer to help the SMASH COVID Vaccination Programme at the Middlewich Vaccination Clinic, please email:
admin@middlewich.org.uk or call 01606 833434.
If you are wanting to volunteer to be a vaccinator or with an appropriate healthcare background and willing to train please visit cheshirevaccbank.net/
SMASH PCN have now vaccinated over 10,000 patients!
The Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Scholar Green and Haslington (SMASH) PCN, have to date vaccinated over 10,000 patients in first 4 cohorts. This is an incredible feat, a huge thank you and congratulations to all those involved in making this happen as quickly and efficiently as possible.
On Monday 8 February, if you believe you are in one of the top 4 groups and haven’t heard from us, please contact your GP practice. Please don’t worry as we will prioritise anyone we may have missed.
Over 3000 patients vaccinated over the weekend in SMASH PCN
The Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Scholar Green and Haslington (SMASH) Primary Care Network (PCN) have this weekend alone, vaccinated over 3000 patients at the Covid-19 vaccination sites in Alsager and Middlewich.
A huge thanks to the amazing team and volunteers at both our sites for making this possible.
Note: If you have not yet received your invite, please be patient as we try to contact everybody within this cohort as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thank you
Covid-19 vaccination invites begin for over 75’s
Today, invites have begun to be sent to all over 75’s across Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Scholar Green and Haslington (SMASH) GP Practice areas to attend one of our Covid-19 vaccination clinics.
Please be patient as we try to contact everybody within this cohort as quickly and efficiently as possible, in this cohort alone we will be running clinics to vaccinate over 4000 patients over the next 10 days.
Thank you for your cooperation
Over 80’s invitation to attend Covid-19 vaccination clinic
If you are over the age of 80, and have not received an invite to attend a Covid-19 vaccination clinic by 8pm on Monday 18th January 2021, please contact your GP Practice tomorrow.
Many thanks
Covid-19 Vaccination – First Phase Priority Groups
You can download the Covid-19 Vaccination – First phrase priority groups poster which shows the first phase priority order for patients to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.
Covid-19 SMS / Text Message Scams
Sadly, there are a number of SMS/Text message scams currently taking place, preying on the fears of Covid-19 and sending ‘phishing’ messages to try and trick users into using a bad link.
For more information about this and how to avoid these scams, please download Scams to be aware of regarding Covid-19
Covid 19 Vaccination Programme – SMASH PCN
A partnership of seven GP practices has opened its first Covid-19 vaccination centre, with a second to follow soon.
Following a successful inspection, The Thirteen Club, in Cedar Road, Alsager, is now ready to receive and administer vaccines. This means that patients registered at Merepark, Green Moss, Haslington and Cedars Medical Centres will be notified of their first vaccination appointments very soon.
A vaccination centre for patients registered at Ashfields, Oaklands, and Waters Edge Medical Centres will follow imminently.
The centres are being set up and managed by the SMASH Primary Care Network (PCN) made up of the following GP practices: Merepark Medical Centre, Greenmoss Medical Centre, Cedars Medical Centre, Ashfields Primary Care Centre, Oaklands Medical Centre, Waters Edge Medical Centre and Haslington Surgery.
The PCN is working closely with NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Cheshire East Council.
In line with NHS guidance, the first vaccines will be offered to patients over 80 years old, and residents of care homes. This is how we will be prioritising the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr Neil Paul, lead clinician for Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Scholar Green and Haslington areas known as SMASH PCN, said:
“When it’s your time to receive your vaccine, you will receive an invitation to come forward. Please don’t turn up at the site unless you have an appointment, and please don’t contact your practice to make an appointment, we will contact you when it’s time. We will notify you as soon as we are ready to proceed.
“We are very pleased that the vaccine is finally being delivered, this is the news we have been waiting for. Everyone has been working hard behind the scenes to make sure we can deliver the Covid vaccination programme safely and effectively”
“It’s important though, to realise that vaccines will be limited to priority groups at this early stage. First invitations will go out to people aged 80 and above”
“While you are waiting for your turn, please follow the rules of the national lockdown that started in England at midnight on Tuesday (5 January).We wish everyone the very best for 2021 and please keep safe”.
Dr Andrew Wilson, clinical chair of NHS Cheshire CCG, said: “The availability of two vaccines gives us all confidence of a return to something approaching normality in 2021. The NHS in Cheshire is pulling out all the stops to accelerate the vaccination programme.
“The NHS will contact you when it’s your turn for the vaccine. In the meantime, please continue protecting the NHS and saving lives by staying home and avoiding all non-essential travel.”
If you would like to volunteer to help out at your local vaccination centre, or for further enquiries please contact:
Denise Smith, SMASH PCN Practice Manager Lead
Denise.Smith24@nhs.net
