Dronfield healthcare staff threatened and abused over Chesterfield Football Club vaccines

Stubley Medical Centre workers have had angry phone calls and abuse from residents after the news broke that players and staff from Chesterfield FC received the Pfizer/BioNTech immunisation jab from the centre last week.

The doctors surgery and the National League Football Club confirmed that most people who were given the vaccine were classed as ‘vulnerable’ and the jabs would have been wasted if they had not been used.

Currently, the vaccines against coronavirus are only being rolled out to the four most vulnerable society groups, such as care home residents and workers, NHS staff and people aged 70 and over.

While Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group are investigating the circumstances around the vaccines, they said it was ‘troubling’ to hear that their colleagues at the practice had received abuse and ‘aggressive behaviour’ towards NHS staff would not be tolerated.

Derbyshire Police are investigating reports of threats being made to a member of staff at the surgery.

Clinical Director for Chesterfield and Dronfield Primary Care Network Dr Peter J Flann said: "Stubley Medical Centre is a practice which is supporting us with delivery of the national Covid Vaccination programme.

“Threatening behaviour at any time is not acceptable, and certainly not when directed at NHS staff who are trying to serve their patients and community.

"This situation is even more disturbing when it is aimed at a staff member who has worked tirelessly to provide vaccines in line with the national guidelines.

“The surgery has received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the thousands of vaccines they have administered in care homes, the homes of patients and in the clinics, with minimal wastage.”

A spokesperson for NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group commented: “The CCG is very troubled to hear that our colleagues at the practice have been the subject of threatening behaviour as a result of recent media reports.

"Any verbal or physical threats or aggressive behaviour towards NHS staff is utterly intolerable and the CCG supports the practice in any action they might take against the perpetrators.

“The CCG will not be making further comment on the wider review at this time.”

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