Banbury Lions Club members helping with the local Covid-19 vaccination programme

Six volunteers from the Banbury Lions Club helped keep the car park flowing and provide information for attending patients getting their Covid-19 vaccination at the Grimsbury Community Centre clinic.

Six volunteers from the club helped at the Grimsbury Community Centre where the Woodlands Surgery and Cropredy Surgery jointly held their vaccinations on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

John Couppleditch, the welfare officer for the Banbury Lions Club, said: "Although, we are outside in the fresh air, to maximise Covid security each volunteer takes a 'lateral flow' Covid test before each session and logs the results with the surgery and gov.uk.

"We wear masks and carry hand gel. Whilst we do not come into close contact with anyone, we wanted to protect those patients coming in for their jabs.

"Our role outside is just to ensure that we can help those driving in to find a parking space and by asking them for their appointment time, we can politely ask them to wait in their cars if they are a bit too early. This helps them keep warm and safe by ensuring they are not queuing outside with lots of other people and thus avoiding bottle necks in the vaccination centre.

"We also helped those with mobility needs to find appropriate spaces for them to unload and reload wheelchairs and walking frames for those that needed them.

Volunteers from the Banbury Lions Club are also volunteered today, Thursday January 21, at the centre and will continue to do so this weekend.

John added: "Having the opportunity to help in such a practical way over the first weekend session and all future sessions, and in some small way help in the fight against Covid 19, is a fantastic and fabulous example of what the Lions do.

"Those attending their appointments have been very appreciative and commented on such a well run vaccination programme."

John also said members of the lions club were not the only volunteers helping with the vaccination programme.

He added: "The Banbury Lions are only a very small cog in this whole effort. There are many more volunteers and support staff associated with Woodlands and Cropredy Surgeries that were involved over the weekend, and onwards until this programme is completed (however long it takes).

"There were volunteers on the door checking patients in, and lots more volunteers inside guiding and helping those patients that needed it whilst they got their vaccinations. The GP practice admin teams also worked over the weekend to ensure the smooth running of the programme.

"We must also not forget the amazing effort and achievement of the clinicians involved with giving the vaccinations, the nurses, the nurse practitioners, the doctors, the paramedics many of which are working full time and long hours during the week as well as now committing to weekends for the foreseeable future.

"We are proud and delighted to be involved in helping in some way."