Winchester Primary Care Network is, this week, piloting a walk-in vaccination at the Badger’s Farm Community Centre.
This announcement has come following weeks of calls by local Member of Parliament, Steve Brine, to bring walk-in access to Winchester.
Mr Brine has highlighted, in the House of Commons, the need for residents of Winchester to travel to Southampton for a walk-in centre, which for many has been deemed “unacceptable”. The MP first raised the issue with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the House of Commons on 15th November, following multiple calls by residents of the county town of Hampshire.
Speaking after the confirmation by Winchester PCN, Steve Brine said; “I am pleased the local NHS have heeded calls to add some walk-in dates for Winchester which supplement their successful booster roll out programme of last month.
“We need to be doing everything we can, and making it as easy as possible, to keep my constituents fully vaccinated. I hope this trial is a success and we can see more of it because we’re clearly going to need an ongoing effort to maintain immunity from Covid in the population.
“We do also need a more varied offer because we cannot keep putting this on our GPs without further impacting their ability to provide all the other primary care services we demand of them.”
Walk-in access at Badger Farm Community Centre is available on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th January between 13:00 and 17:30.
Local NHS leaders have also confirmed a new vaccination site, which will be operated by Pharmacy2U, is being opened next week at the South Park and Ride Car Park, on the edge of the city. Mr Brine hopes this increased access will get Hampshire over the 80% line on boosters.
The park and ride site is expected to be opened from 10th January, with walk-in access being implemented shortly after.
Pictured; Steve Brine speaking with BBC South Today at the Badger Farm site.
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