News from our partners: Changes at RJAH vaccinations site are good news for patients

News from our partners The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH)

More people are set to be able to get their vaccinations against COVID-19 at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry, as its hospital hub transitions into a vaccination centre.

From today (Wednesday 3 March 2021) appointments at the RJAH vaccination centre will be available for patients receiving a letter inviting them to book through the national booking system.

RJAH COVID-19 Vaccination Centre

Local people are able to receive their vaccination when they are invited to do so, through their GPs, some local pharmacies and vaccination centres. RJAH will become the fourth vaccination centre in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, joining the Ludlow Racecourse,  Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre and Telford International Centre.

Angie Wallace, COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Director for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:-

“We are delighted that RJAH will become a vaccination centre. This will help us to more rapidly deliver vaccinations as we move into providing the vaccines to more priority groups.

“The team at RJAH have been doing a terrific job vaccinating people in the first four priority groups, which include NHS, social care and care home staff and some of the most vulnerable people. This means they will be able to keep providing a service for local people for the foreseeable future. 

“With a new pharmacy site set to open in Oswestry, and a number of GPs operating across north Shropshire, we have the capacity we need in place to meet demand in the weeks ahead.”

Mark Brandreth, Chief Executive of RJAH, said:-

“We are delighted to get approval for our hospital hub to transition to a vaccination centre.

“This is a technical change, that won’t make any difference to our patients when attending their appointments. What it does do is simplify the booking process for patients and give reassurance that this service is here to stay in our local community.

“In our planning for the delivery of the vaccinations across the county we have spoken to the managers of several potential sites, and local people may be aware that we were in discussions with a local company, Aico Ltd, with a view to using its site at Oswestry if required. The company has been incredibly helpful and committed to helping us deliver the vaccines since our first discussions. Due to the decision to transition RJAH to a vaccination centre, we will not now be progressing, but I would like to express our  thanks to Aico for its can-do attitude and enthusiasm.

“I’m delighted with the arrangements we do have in place for our whole county, and thank all partners in Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin, for their ongoing support.”

Further information

Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) is made up of health and care commissioners and providers. Partners include Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust.

Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin STP was created to encourage health and care organisations to work more closely together to improve outcomes and care for local people, reduce pressures on services and make best use of our financial resources. It sets out ambitious plans for transformed neighbourhood services; safe and effective hospital care; ways in which new technology can be harnessed; and how gaps in the workforce can be filled and financial resources better spent. 

Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin, vaccination sites 

Vaccination Centres:

• Ludlow Racecourse
• Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre
• The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
• Telford International Centre

Pharmacy services:

• Woodside Pharmacy at The Park Lane Centre, Woodside, Telford
• Wellington Pharmacy at AFC Telford United, Wellington

Local Primary Care Network (PCN) services (groups of local GP practices):

• Bridgnorth Medical Centre, delivered by GPs in the South East Shropshire PCN
• Malinslee Healthcare Centre, Telford, delivered by GPs in the Teldoc PCN
• Severn Fields Medical Practice, Shrewsbury, delivered by GPs in the Shrewsbury PCN
• Prees Medical Practice, delivered by GPs in the North Shropshire PCN
• Church Stretton Medical Practice, delivered by in the GPs South West Shropshire PCN
• Audley Court, Newport, delivered by GPs in the Newport and Central PCN at the Combat Stress veteran’s centre
• Wellington Medical Practice, delivered by GPs in the Wrekin PCN

A list of vaccination sites is available at: NHS England’s website

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.rjah.nhs.uk

Located in Oswestry on the Shropshire and North Wales border, The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust serves the local population in Shropshire, North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and the West Midlands, with a patient catchment extending nationally.

A specialist orthopaedic hospital with a world-wide reputation for innovation and research, the Trust provides elective orthopaedic surgery and musculo-skeletal medical services, as well as particular areas of expertise including spinal injuries, bone tumour and disorders affecting muscular development.