Derbyshire leisure centre becomes Covid vaccinations hub

The sports hall at Sharley Park Leisure Centre in Clay Cross is one of the first public spaces in the country to be converted for the mass vaccination programme, which is being ramped up this week.

Before injections started there on Friday, January 8, vaccinations across the county had taken place at hospitals and GP surgeries or in care homes.

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More than 25 leisure centre staff employed by North East Derbyshire District Council took part in a vaccination trial in Bakewell to see how such an operation could be safely and efficiently managed.

Councillor Alex Dale, leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, said: “I am incredibly proud of the way in which we have supported our residents and businesses in their times of need, from providing food parcels to the vulnerable or being a listening ear on the phone and providing over £20 million pounds of support through business grants.

"This latest feat to turn around our leisure centre, in such a short space of time, to be one of the first vaccination sites converted from a public building has been nothing short of miraculous.

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“Using Sharley Park Leisure Centre as a vaccination site is a fantastic way to make sure the people of our district and county are able to access this vital vaccine.

“We have worked extremely hard with our NHS partners to get Sharley Park ready for patients, even taking part in a trial which was the only one in the country and I would like to thank all involved who have made this possible.

“It is a hugely positive step forward to reducing Covid cases in our district and the wider county. But while this is an incredibly exciting opportunity to end this pandemic, I must stress, while the roll out is happening, we must do all we can now to keep our distance, wash our hands, wear face coverings when out and protect our NHS and save lives.”

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People have been assured they will be invited for a vaccination when their time comes and asked not to contact their GP about getting a jab unless asked to do so or to attend any vaccination centre without an appointment.

Derby & Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is managing the rollout of the vaccine across the county, today said it was unable to say how many people had received their first dose of vaccine so far, with NHS England also declining to give a figure.

Hannage Brook Medical Centre, which is part of the Derbyshire Dales primary care network, thanked everyone who came to get vaccinated, saying it was the first time many had been out in months.

“We didn’t waste a drop of 1,170 vaccines,” it added.

The full list of active Covid vaccination sites across the county, and the primary care network area they serve, is:

Stubley – Chesterfield & Dronfield

Ripley - Alfreton Ripley Crich & Heanor Primary Care Network

Bakewell – Derbyshire Dales

Long Eaton - Erewash

Sharley Leisure Centre – South Hardwick

St Oswald’s – Derbyshire Dales

Babington Hospital - Belper

Thornbrook – High Peak & Buxton

Derby Arena - Greater Derby, Derby City South, Derby City North, Oakdale Park, PCCO.