At one point during the Coronavirus crisis, the infection rate in ‘Your Waverley’ was higher than in Woking. Now Waverley’s rate has substantially dropped and is now the lowest in the county. However, residents are urged to “keep up the good work – because the first vaccines have arrived at The Royal Surrey in Guildford.
Helicopters hovered over Cranleigh Village Hall last week taking footage of the building which is to become a local Vaccination Centre for the eastern villages. Cranleigh Parish Council has led the way in opening its community building to the Surrey Heartlands NHS Trust.
Cranleigh hall earmarked for a mass COVID vaccination centre.
In a mobilisation evoking memories of wartime, Britain’s community facilities are being handed over so millions can quickly receive the life-saving vaccine over the coming days. Secret plans drawn up by NHS top brass have put the country on a war footing with venues like Cranleigh’s on the frontline.
As preparations for a mass inoculation programme ramp up, the extraordinary can-do spirit behind- the UK’s biggest peacetime logistical exercise has been likened to those who helped on the home front during the Second World War. The vaccine will be administered around-the-clock in what has been dubbed “V-Day” [Vaccination Day]. Cranleigh Village Hall was offered to health chiefs to play its part and from now on will only be used to give lifesaving jabs could arrive as soon as next week.
It is not the first time the Cranleigh hall has been used as a public vaccination centre. It was last used during the 1959 flu epidemic.
Parish council chair and Waverley Borough Councillor Liz Townsend said:
“Waverley Borough Council received a request from NHS Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group asking whether we had any buildings available and ours is largely standing empty. We have a large hall, side rooms and plenty of parking so it’s perfect. The instruction was very clear and that was to be ready by today. (Last Thursday) It’s all agreed, we have signed on the dotted line and they will have exclusive use of it seven days a week between 8am-8pm. “
However, she has urged residents to stick to the rules, and stay safe, to ensure the Waverley infection rate continues to drop.
Well done Cranleigh Parish Council. The village which adopted the motto – ‘Cranleigh Cares.’
The Royal Surrey is among 50 hospitals to start vaccinating patients against coronavirus from Today Tuesday in the largest immunisation programme the country has ever experienced.
Frimley Park Hospital is believed to be the only other Surrey hospital to be included on the list.
A Royal Surrey spokesman stressed that patients will be contacted at the right time to come forward. People are asked not to contact or visit the hospital to seek a vaccine before then.
First to receive a vaccination will be those aged 80 and over, care home workers and NHS workers at higher risk.
Out-patients aged 80 and above and those being discharged from a hospital stay, will also be offered vaccination.
Additionally, hospitals will begin inviting over-80s with care home providers to book their staff for clinics. Any appointments not used for these groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at the highest risk of serious illness from Covid. Forty million doses are being delivered and all those vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.
Royal Surrey’s Chief Nurse Jo Mountjoy
“This is a moment of real hope for our community. We look forward to working with our local partners on this and we thank our staff for their ongoing hard work and dedication throughout this pandemic.”