Albion Medical Practice

Message from Ken Morris – Chairman of Albion’s Patient Participation Group

May I wish all my fellow patients a Happy New Year.

For most of us 2020 has been a year we will wish to forget. Looking forward, however, 2021 offers us all hope for relief from Covid-19 and a gradual return to some form of normality. The decision to approve the “Oxford” vaccine’ which does not require the ultra-cold storage facilities’ will provide a welcome boost. It will now permit the mass vaccination programme required to tackle the virus head on to truly get into gear.

A considerable amount of planning has already been put into place to administer the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme nationally and locally. For us in Ashton all the GP surgeries have combined resources and vaccinations will be undertaken at a specially created centre at St Peters. As you will have seen and read Patients are being vaccinated under a nationally prescribed order based on age and vulnerability.  Some of you may have already had their first Jab.

All patients will be individually notified by the practice with the date and time of their appointment once it is known. It is important NOT to phone the practice asking when it will be your turn. Apart from wasting your time it also blocks calls for those needing treatment. Patience is the name of the game and at 73 I am keen to get my jab A.S.A.P.

I will be working with our Practice Manager to produce a set of Questions and Answers about the Vaccines especially for those who may have concerns. As somebody who had Polio as a child in the 1950s I fully appreciated the role that the Vaccination Program globally has had since then in all but eradicating that disease.

Now that we are also moving into Tier 4 it will be even more important to follow the guidance to keep safe with the Vaccine on the way! 

Ken Morris

Chair of the Patients Group