Video emerges of long queues outside Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel vaccination centre

Jamie Smith captured the above footage on his dashcam on the afternoon of January 30.

MORE: How Derbyshire town's new flood defences helped keep Storm Christoph at bay

He said: “I was overwhelmed driving by thinking all of these people would be soon vaccinated against this awful disease.”

A number of people contacted the Derbyshire Times to raise concerns about queues outside the Winding Wheel on that afternoon.

A spokesperson for NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The Winding Wheel is a busy Covid-19 vaccination site, providing life-saving vaccines to hundreds of people every day.

“The team there is very experienced at managing the busy schedule, with queues moving quickly even when they do extend along the path.

“Saturday (January 30) was another busy day, and the queue was long.

“However, the line moved quickly, and each person took just two to three minutes to receive their vaccination once they entered the vaccination site.

“The GP practices running the site have had generally excellent feedback from the public about the professionalism of the team, and the smoothness of the procedure inside the Winding Wheel.

MORE: Letter: Getting my Covid jab was a positive experience

“However, we do recognise that for people who have been isolated during lockdown, the busy environment may be disconcerting and we ask for patience and understanding.

“In order to keep queues as short as possible, we ask that people arrive no more than five minutes before their appointment and should not bring other people with them unless absolutely necessary.

“People should not attend without an appointment and, if possible, should also bring the letter or text inviting them.

“While the marshals will do their best to assist, it is the responsibility of everyone in a queue to observe social distancing rules outside the vaccination site.

“The experienced staff, drawn from several different NHS organisations, will use their discretion to help where they can.”

In total, 222,792 people across Derbyshire have had their first jab between December 8, when vaccinations began, and February 7, according to latest data published by NHS England.

There are 840,755 residents in total – meaning that just over a quarter (26.5 per cent) of the total population of Derbyshire has had jabs so far.

MORE: Derbyshire leading the way in Covid-19 vaccine race – with a quarter of all residents jabbed

Editor’s message

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription at www.localsubsplus.co.uk or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.