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WEST LANCASHIRE

13 13April April2022 2022

Vol 29• Issue 15

INSIDE THIS WEEK:

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Navy vet in ‘Little Ships’ tribute voyage

Work to start soon on new bus station

MP SLAMS DELAY IN OPENING OF COVID-19 BOOSTER JAB CLINICS Vulnerable patients in Ormskirk were told to travel out of town to get their vaccinations

High Sheriff of Lancashire, Martin Ainscough

Parbold man sworn in as High Sheriff

NEW High Sheriff of Lancashire, Martin Ainscough , has been sworn in at a special ceremony at County Hall, Preston. The High Sheriff is the Queen’s representative in the county, overseeing all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order. They also support and encourage the voluntary sector and statutory organisations. Mr Ainscough, who was brought up on the family farm in Parbold, said: “To become High Sheriff of Lancashire is a great honour for me and my family. “I will endeavour to work closely with the police, the judiciary and our emergency services. “I intend to encourage and support the many voluntary groups who work tirelessly to create positive and lasting relationships with all of Lancashire’s diverse cultures and religious groups.”

Report by Henry James WEST Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group has been slammed by MP Rosie Cooper for “failing their patients in Ormskirk” after over-75s in the town were told to travel elsewhere to get their Covid booster vaccinations. She said the booster programme had been “abandoned in the town for weeks” and it was only after her intervention that health authorities started working to set up vaccine booster clinics in Ormskirk which should be open from next week. The NHS have been rolling out the Covid-19 Spring booster vaccine programme for over 75s across the country, and in most places it is provided by the local GPs. In Ormskirk however, the Primary Care Network, made up of local GPs, decided to opt out of providing this and instead the booster jab is supposed to be being offered by the local Aspire Pharmacy.

The MP said Aspire Pharmacy were overwhelmed and have been telling any over-75s to go to Burscough, Skelmersdale or other national sites that are further away for their vaccinations. Health bosses have said they are “actively monitoring uptake while we develop plans to deliver more clinics in the area.” The MP said: “This is ridiculous. The CCG have failed their vulnerable Ormskirk patients, sitting idly by whilst the pharmacy, which were supposed to vaccinate them, decided it was too much work! “For weeks now, my constituents have been told that they have no options to get the booster in Ormskirk and must travel to Burscough or beyond if they want to be fully protected against Covid.

“This means some of my vulnerable constituents who may not be able to drive have been left with a choice - risk infection on public transport to get to Burscough, or go without the booster. “I am appalled this has been allowed to happen and have asked NHS England why a major town has been allowed to go without a vaccination centre for weeks without anyone sorting it out.” She added: “I am now glad to hear that Aspire, the Ormskirk GPs and the Clinical Commissioning Group are working to set up vaccine booster clinics in Ormskirk from next week. “I am told there will be weekday and weekend clinics from the health centre as well as pop ups. “While this is a welcome improvement, it should have been resolved as soon as Aspire indicated that they were pausing their service. “I am very disappointed that it took patients’ complaints to get this awful situation resolved.” Dr Peter Gregory, GP at Parkgate Surgery in Ormskirk and chair of NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “After playing a significant part in the Covid-19 vaccination programme, GP practices in Ormskirk stepped back from the programme at the end of March to focus on seeing as many patients as possible in primary care and tackling the backlog caused by the pandemic. “The CCG is working with NHS England, as well as the Lancashire and South Cumbria vaccination team, to ensure an equitable rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine Continued inside

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