Who is eligible for vaccines at Etchingham’s village hall?

The Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust said ‘hundreds of people’ have now received their Covid-19 vaccination in rural Rother since the service went live at Etchingham Village Hall on Wednesday, January 20.

The trust is working in partnership with seven GP practices whose patients will be eligible to receive their jabs at the centre when they are invited.

This seven GP practices are: Fairfield Surgery, Burwash; Ferry Road Health Centre, Rye; Martins Oak Surgery, Battle; Northiam and Broad Oak Surgery; Oldwood Surgery, Robertsbridge /Battle Health Centre; Rye Medical Centre; and Sedlescombe and Westfield Surgeries.

The service is offering vaccine appointments to registered patients at these GP practices in line with the national priority groups, starting with those who are over the age of 80.

It is a community partnership which includes volunteers from the local area, the fire service providing help, and support from the local primary school to provide additional storage space.

Dr Camilla Pashley, GP at Sedlescombe and Westfield Surgeries and one of the Clinical Directors for Rural Rother Primary Care Network, said: “We are very proud to see this essential service go live after so much hard work, planning and commitment from our GP practices, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and other local partners.

“To play a part in the biggest immunisation programme undertaken by the NHS is an honour and a privilege and we look forward to welcoming local people through the doors of Etchingham Village Hall to receive their vaccinations.

“Please help your local practices by not contacting them directly; they will contact you as soon as an appointment is available for you. We are also asking people not to turn up early for their appointments. Arriving on time will help us manage the number of people at the venue and help keep our patients and staff safe.”

James Bowey, an airline pilot who joined the NHS as a result of Covid-19’s impact on the airline industry, is managing the site at Etchingham.

He said: “First and foremost I want to pay tribute to the amazing teams at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust who have worked tirelessly to set up Etchingham Village Hall as a vaccination centre for this rural community.

“It is a privilege to be involved in the Covid-19 vaccination programme and we look forward to welcoming patients over the coming days and weeks to give them this vaccine.”

The GP practice teams say they have been identifying their patients who are eligible at this stage and appointments have and will continue to be booked in over the coming weeks.

The team acknowledged the difficulty some patients may have in travelling to Etchingham and said: “Getting the Covid-19 vaccination is one of the best defences against the virus. It should help reduce the rates of serious illness, reduce pressure on our NHS and social care services, and, above all, save lives. We encourage anyone who is contacted by their GP practice, either by phone, email or letter, to take up the offer of an appointment.

“We recognise that at the current time, with one site at Etchingham, some people will have to travel further than others to get their vaccination depending on where they live in the local area.

“Please be aware that under government guidelines a family member or friend is permitted to take a person to their Covid-19 vaccine appointment, which is classed as an exemption as it is a ‘medical appointment’.”