NHS and social care staff invited to book their vaccinations in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes, Luton and Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are encouraging health and social care staff to get their jabs as soon as possible.

The decision makers for Milton Keynes' NHS area are inviting staff to organise appointments to get vaccinations against the Coronavirus at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Appointments can be booked on the NHS website here.

MK, Luton and Beds CCG list the criteria for NHS workers who can book appointments as:

1) NHS staff who have frequent face-to-face contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care in either secondary or primary care, mental health, urgent and emergency care and community settings.

2) Those working in independent, voluntary and non-standard healthcare settings such as hospices, and community-based mental health or addiction services.

3) Laboratory, pathology and mortuary staff.

4) Those working for a sub-contracted provider of facilities services such as portering or cleaning.

5) Temporary, locum or ‘bank’ staff, including those working in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with patients.

6) Frontline social care workers directly working with vulnerable people who need care and support irrespective of where they work (for example in hospital, people’s own homes, day centres, or supported housing); or who they are employed by (for example local government, NHS, independent sector or third sector).

NHS staff are required to bring photo identification to prove their eligibility to the hospital, as the online system will not validate whether someone is eligible for a vaccine ahead of time.

Those going to the hospital for a vaccination are asked not to arrive any more than five minutes before their appointment. This is to help ensure social distancing can be observed in the vaccination centre.

Staff members unable to reach the hospital are asking to contact NHS booking service here, to make alternate arrangements.

Staff should try online booking first but if this is not possible, they can phone 119 free of charge, 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week. As part of the booking process, eligible staff need to self-declare they are a health or social care worker. Staff will be able to book this way for a limited period, until 28 February.

Dr Sarah Whiteman, GP and the chair elect for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The Government is keen to get as many health and social care staff vaccinated as possible. The programme to return to normality includes the vaccination of these key staff who have been supporting the health and social care of our population over the past year.

“The coronavirus vaccine is a key tool in the pandemic fight and I urge all those to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”