Inside Severn Health Covid-19 Vaccination Centre in Stroud

Hundreds more people were give a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Severn Health Vaccination Centre at Beeches Green on Saturday.

With the first patient arriving at 8.40am, more than 600 vaccinations had been carried out by midday and the session extended well into the afternoon.

The centre is capable of administering 1,500 vaccinations a day, and has given out more than 20,000 in total to patients from seven surgeries in the district.

Severn Health Vaccination Centre at Beeches Green

It is one of three centres responsible for vaccinating people in the Stroud district, alongside Rowcroft Medical Centre in Stroud and the Vale Hospital in Dursley.

Despite the huge amount of work being done the centre has just two permanent members of staff, with a rotating cast of clinical leads and an army of volunteers helping site supervisor Dave Marshall and lead nurse Sue Holder.

Volunteer team leaders Jenny Kempson, Alison Kennedy , Brian Porter, Christian Anderson and Ralph Perry help the pair oversee a network of 130 volunteers, with around 30 called upon for a vaccination session.

Among the volunteers are retired healthcare staff, furloughed workers and even people volunteering at weekends while holding down a full time job during the week.

They have been rewarded with gifts from patients and local businesses. Tesco, Co-op, Sainsbury's, B&Q, Aldi, Waitrose, Wilko and Morrisons have all donated Easter eggs, hot cross buns, biscuits and other confectionary. 

Staff and volunteers at Severn Health Vaccination Centre at Beeches Green

Dave said: "They have been absolutely wonderful. They come at short notice. They are so good that they just drop everything and come along and help out."

Site supervisor Dave Marshall

"I'm really proud of the team," added Sue.

Lead nurse Sue Holder

"Everyone is going over and above to get this done."

Alison, who is self-employed and was previously running Covid-19 clinical research trials, heard about the opportunity while volunteering for Longfield Hospice.

Alison Kennedy, volunteer team leader

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," she said.

"There's nothing more important than getting more jabs into more people's arms.

"I can't make people better but I can stop them getting ill."

At the busiest times people were having to queue for up to half and hour, but there were few complaints.

The queue outside Severn Health Vaccination Centre at Beeches Green

"People said to me they have waited a year for a vaccine so 25 minutes doesn't matter," said Alison.

She is married to fellow volunteer Christian but, as they are both team leaders, never work the same shifts.

"He cooked me dinner last night when I got home," she said.

Brian starting volunteering as he has been unable to work as a driving instructor during lockdown, but hopes to continue at the centre after he can resume driving lessons on April 12.

Brian Porter, volunteer team leader

"I am a people person so what I wanted to do was work alongside people.

"It's a very satisfying job," he said.

Retired nurse Jenny Kempson added: "I thought I'd like to be a very small part of something amazingly positive.

Jenny Kempson, volunteer team leader

Fellow volunteer Carolanne Lingard starting volunteering just before Christmas and comes to the centre on Saturdays following a week working full time as a finance systems manager.

"It's quite a different job but it's nice," she said.

"I work from home so it's just nice to be out and seeing people and feeling like you are doing something useful.

"It's really uplifting."

Volunteers carry out a variety of jobs and the centre is always on the lookout for more. Only registered health professionals can act as vaccinators, but there are also more administrative roles, managing the flow of traffic and even handing out stickers post-vaccination.

Post-vaccine stickers

On Thursday and Friday Pfizer BioNTech second dose vaccinations were being administered, but today it was first dose AstraZeneca vaccinations for people in cohort 1-9.

Severn Health Vaccination Centre at Beeches Green

Thirty-year-old pharmacist Hannah Webb was among those getting the jab today, having recently returned from an 18-month spell in New Zealand.

Severn Health Vaccination Centre at Beeches Green

"I've been quite lucky, I've missed most of the pandemic," she said.

"Absolutely fine, didn't hurt a bit, quick and painless and pretty relaxed," was her assessment of proceedings.

Less fortunate was Adam Hodges, 48, who said he had twice tested positive for Covid-19.

"It was fine, it has to be done. I don't fancy getting it again to be honest," he said.

David Ogle, 45, from Eastington was another satisfied customer.

David Ogle had his first vaccination

"It was very easy and didn't hurt at all.

"My wife was here this morning and had it as well so we are both happy about it," he said.

Inga Gibbons, 48, added: "It's just a needle prick, no pain or anything.

She encouraged people to get the vaccine to 'help yourself and others'.

In April the centre, along with those around the country, will be mainly running second dose sessions as a result of a temporary drop in vaccine supply.