Second location chosen to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations to Chichester residents

It follows the announcement on Wednesday (January 6) that patients from eight GP surgeries across Chichester will start being invited for vaccinations in Selsey.

In a fresh statement, published by surgeries in Lavant and Selsey on Thursday, Tangmere was identified as a second location where the vaccination will be delivered.

However, this is subject to final site approval and the delivery of the vaccine to the site.

If approved, patients from all eight practices belonging to the Chichester Alliance of Medical Practices (ChAMP) will be invited to appointments.

These include Cathedral Medical Group, Langley House, Lavant Road, Parklands, Selsey, Southbourne, Tangmere and Witterings.

The statement read: "We are pleased to advise that, subject to final site approval and the delivery to site of the vaccine itself, the Chichester Alliance of Medical Practices (ChAMP) will commence COVID Vaccination Clinics in the week commencing January 11, 2021, most likely starting midweek.

"The clinics will be held in both Tangmere Village Centre, Tangmere, Chichester, PO20 2HS and The Selsey Centre, Manor Road, Selsey, Chichester, PO20 0SE.

"We realise that these locations are not ideal for all patients but there were few options available that could accommodate the complex arrangements for the delivery of these vaccines; at least at this early stage, the ChAMP GP surgeries are not suitable."

ChAMP said that, while other, more central sites, may seem a 'better solution', there are 'a number of reasons' why they could not be used, including that they will be needed beyond the current lockdown, when those buildings would want to reopen.

Initially, Priority 2 Cohorts will be invited. These are all those 80 years of age and over, frontline health and social care workers.

'Separate arrangements' are being made for the Priority 1 Cohort, which include residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults.

The statement noted that Priority 1 people will be vaccinated by another organisation within their care homes.

A spokesperson added: "Your practice has already supplied a list of eligible patients to this central organisation.

"The vaccination sites will be staffed by a mixture of local GP Practice staff, hospital staff and members of the public who have volunteered from the local community.

"A central ChAMP NHS Organisation will contact eligible patients directly to book them into the clinics. You will not be asked for your NHS Number when you are contacted.

"Please DO NOT contact your GP surgery as they will not be able to book you into this clinic.

"Please advise us if we should use a different telephone number to contact you if you are temporarily living away from your permanent home but remain within the wider Chichester area.

"If you are living temporarily in a different part of the country, please contact a local practice for their arrangements."

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