Alan, a volunteer with Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire (HWCB), explains how he was able to help set up a vaccination clinic for pregnant women in Leighton Buzzard, as well as bringing other health support to local people.
When I was elected as Chair of the PPG at Salisbury House Surgery, Leighton Buzzard in March 2024, the Practice Manager asked me if I could arrange for the Flu vaccine to be administered to pregnant women at the Maternity Clinic in Grovebury Road Surgery. The aim of this was to alleviate some of the pressures on the three surgeries over the winter period, as they have to allocate a 10 minute appointment for every patient. Little did I know at this time that it had been tried a number of times in the past, but never happened.
After a frustrating start, and after some weeks I was put in contact with the Director of Midwifery in Central Bedfordshire, who said almost immediately that it could happen. I was then put in contact with the Manager of Women’s Services for Central Bedfordshire, who too said it could happen, but that they would also do the Petussis (Whooping Cough) vaccination and the Covid vaccination also. Somewhat taken aback, I readily agreed…This led to a number of conversations, and a clinic from the Maternity Unit at the Luton and Dunstable was moved to Leighton Buzzard.
The vaccination program started on 6th September 2024 and I originally intended to go to Grovebury Road, but was at the HWCB ‘Just Ask’ event in Houghton Regis. I called the midwives and was told that the clinic was up and running, there had been some women come in for the vaccinations, and there had also been a number of enquiries about it. I was just a little more than happy… The Flu Vaccination was available from September to March, Covid during the autumn vaccination program and Whooping Cough all year round. The clinic is held in the Maternity Unit of Grovebury Road Surgery every Friday morning from 08.30 to 12.30. I also received a personal thank you from the PCN Board for the hard work that I put into it, and getting something done, that was found to be impossible in the past.
While at the ‘Just Ask’ event that morning I was in conversation with the representatives from the Stroke Association and Headway, and they were talking about the uptake of referrals from Leighton Buzzard. They would like to set up some type of support in Leighton Buzzard, as some of the referrals were unable to attend clinics elsewhere, and that the transport system was ‘dire’. So, I have put them in contact with the PCN who may be able to suggest suitable premises for them to set up a support system in the town, and also organisations that may be able to get people to the clinic at a reasonable cost.
They also want to keep in touch and use my local knowledge.
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