While vaccinations are progressing at pace in Etchingham (over 500 per day), on Monday morning, February 1, REACT (Rye Emergency Action Community Team) took part in a video call to the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to hear about developments with the vaccinations in Sussex. Several points arose which chime with work under way by Sally-Ann Hart MP, the Mayor of Rye and ourselves.
We learnt that there are now three elements to the vaccination programme.
GP (Primary Care Network) arrangements for invitation to go to Etchingham as the vaccination site for eastern Rother and Rye and District. Invitations are normally by telephone call or text from GP surgeries.
OR by letter from the national NHS system with an invitation (more details below) to go to an alternative vaccination centre such as Brighton, Folkestone or pharmacies at places like Ore. Patients in Rye and District are now receiving such letters. This additional option is designed to provide choice.
OR by GP notified arrangements to visit the housebound or those in care homes.
It should be noted that patients may receive the NHS letter before or after contact with the GP surgery. Whichever invitation is accepted, vaccination records will be updated to reflect, but the NHS has advised that this may take a little time. A key paragraph is on the reverse of the letter:
You DO have a choice
“Choice of Location - You can choose to wait until your local GP services contact you if they haven't already. If you would rather do that, you don't need to do anything now or call your GP services please wait for them to contact you. More locations will also become available through the NHS website or by ringing 119 so you could also try again later.
"If you are unable to leave the house to travel to where you are offered an appointment, and cannot arrange for someone to help you, your local NHS services will be in contact with you. If you receive this letter, and already have an appointment booked to have your vaccine at a local GP service, please ignore this letter. There is nothing you need to do except turn up at your scheduled appointment.”
There were other questions of interest:
Q1: What happens to those in temporary accommodation such as caravans or lodges?
A1: They are advised to register as temporary patients in a local surgery.
Q2: What about young disabled people or elderly in sheltered accommodation?
A2: They will receive invitations just like the others.
Q3: Will there be any more centres in eastern Rother and specifically Rye and District?
A3: Discussions and work is under way, but no decision has yet been taken.
Q4: What about transport to Etchingham? https://www.facebook.com/ryeact
A4: There are options outlined on the card above.
More meetings will be held later with the NHS CCG to sort out issues as they arise. If anyone has a particular problem or question, then do please contact us through the REACT Facebook page.
