URGENT CALL FOR LOCAL VOLUNTEERS: Covid-19 Vaccination Support for Harpenden

The Harpenden Trust has just been asked by the local GP Federation if we can coordinate volunteer support for them during the forthcoming Covid-19 vaccination programme across the local Harpenden community. 

At this time, we have been asked if we could coordinate local community support to a central Harpenden location with effect from Monday, 21 December 2020, requiring two outdoor marshals, six indoor patient support volunteers and four administration support personnel each day, for up to six days per week. The programme will be stretching into Spring next year. Viewed in “half days” – we essentially may need between 100 and approaching 150 volunteers each week to support our local community Covid vaccination programme. The GP Federation will provide full training, induction, PPE and appropriate supervision – and refreshments!   

At this stage, we need to respond to indicate to our local GP Federation whether all this is achievable.  Not dissimilar to last March when we established the Harpenden Cares Contact Centre, we fully anticipate that as the weeks progress a flexible rota will emerge, and we understand that volunteers may feel more comfortable only undertaking specific roles, but we can shape such logistics once the volunteer group has formed.

Are you able to offer to volunteer one half day per week (or two half days per week), from Monday, 21 December onwards, to assist in some way?  

There is some immediate time pressure, as we urgently need to establish whether we can deliver this volunteer workforce that our community requires. Pat Ring, our People Director, will be pulling together a consolidated list of potential volunteers who can assist on either one or two half-days per week. If you feel able to help, please could you respond to this message by EITHER emailing vaccine@theharpendentrust.org.uk OR by telephoning the main Harpenden Trust office (01582 460457 weekdays, between 10am and 1pm). We can then start to shape how we can help. 

We would warmly welcome any new volunteers who are not currently registered volunteers at the Harpenden Trust, but who wish to support the Trust with this initiative. We are putting in place expedited procedures for necessary DBS and reference checks as required. Please do share this request as you feel appropriate.

There are also roles in supporting transportation – and we are speaking with one of our partners in Harpenden Cares to see if they can assist in this respect.  The GP Federation is also interested to hear from any volunteers who could train as vaccinators (specifically former GPs, nurses, dentists, airline staff, medical students).  We will pass on any details if relevant. 

If you are able to help on one or two half days per week (or more!), please could I ask you to respond as soon as you are able, as the initial timescales for putting this initiative in place are quite tight.

Thank you in advance to all who feel able to support.

Richard Nichols

Chairman, Harpenden Trust

07 December 2020