Burgess Hill and Hassocks patients to start receiving Covid-19 jab within days

They are being invited for appointments at Clair Hall in Haywards Heath – and further sessions will take place over the coming weeks, Sussex NHS Commissioners said.

Currently, people in Mid Sussex are being vaccinated at Clair Hall and the Princess Royal Hospital.

Sussex NHS Commissioners confirmed this week that vaccinations are also set to start at Meridian Hall in East Grinstead.

A spokesman on behalf of the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme said: “Thanks to the brilliant efforts of teams across the NHS, patients from Burgess Hill and Hassocks are due to start receiving their vaccination this week.

“Patients are being invited for appointments at Clair Hall in Haywards Heath at the end of this week, and further sessions will take place over the coming weeks.

“All services have been working at pace to identify sites and the site at Clair Hall is already well established and has shown in recent weeks how it has made the process as easy as possible for patients and the teams working there to provide this vital vaccine.

“We recognise that some people will have to travel further than others to get their vaccination depending on where they live in the local area, but we would like to assure people that travelling for a medical appointment is permitted during this lock down period.

“If anyone needs support, please speak to the team when they book your appointment.

“As the site goes live we would ask people not to call their GP about the programme and appointments, you will be contacted as soon as a vaccination appointment is available.”

Sussex NHS Commissioners thanked everyone who has volunteered to help within the Sussex vaccination programme.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support and the number of applications from members of the public,” said a spokesman.

“We have teams of brilliant volunteers working across our GP led vaccination services and are looking at what is needed when large vaccination centres go live in Sussex.”

Why is there no vaccination centre in Burgess Hill?

The Middy asked the Sussex NHS Commissioners why no venue had been found within Burgess Hill to give vaccinations.

In response, a spokesman said they had ‘explored the options’.

The site needs to be large enough to accommodate at least 300 people a day with a safe space to wait and be monitored before and afterwards, meet tight infection control and IT criteria as well as offer facilities like parking, they said.

They added: “The teams also needed to consider how a vaccination service could be run on behalf of all GP practices, alongside their individual day to day support for patients.”

They said under the national guidance, it is permissible to receive a lift from someone when getting a jab, or there are community transport providers offering support in terms of transport for medical appointments.