Fears raised over when Portsmouth's new coronavirus vaccine centre will open
HEALTH secretary Matt Hancock has been criticised for a ‘frustrating lack of clarity’ over when a critical coronavirus vaccination centre will open.
The Tory minister came under fire after failing to say when the government would provide the vital equipment needed to open up the facility in Portsmouth.
As revealed by The News last week, St James’ Hospital in Milton has been earmarked by health planners as one of the region’s new mass vaccination centres.
Those behind the ambitious scheme had hoped the site would be ready to launch as early as next week.
But there are fears that if the kit needed to store and issue the vaccine – as well as the medicine itself – isn’t delivered soon, the programme could be delayed.
Demanding answers during a parliamentary debate today, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan asked Mr Hancock when ‘hard-working staff and volunteers’ would receive the ‘doses and equipment’ needed to open the centre.
Responding, Mr Hancock told the handful of MPs physically attending the Westminster session: ‘The kit will be delivered on time – over 98 per cent of vaccines have been delivered on time.
‘Of course there is always, in a very large logistical effort, the occasion hiccup but I will get back to (Mr Morgan) to make sure the minister for vaccine deployment will get back to him with the precise details of when the kit will arrive at his local hospital.’
Speaking to The News after the debate, Mr Morgan said he was disappointed by the response, which he argued lacked clarity and urgency.
‘We all want to see the St James' hospital vaccination centre in our city open as soon as possible,’ the Labour shadow minister added.
‘It's frustrating that the health secretary wasn't able to provide the clarity hard-working staff and volunteers on the ground need at this crucial juncture in our efforts to vaccinate Britain.
‘I will continue to hold the secretary of state to his promise to write to me to provide this information as soon as possible.
‘Our local NHS is ready. The government must now deliver.’
As previously reported, Hive Portsmouth has launched a huge drive for volunteers to help administer the vaccine.
The News understands that leaders from the area’s local resilience forum are due to be briefed on when St James’ will open tomorrow evening.
It comes as fresh figures today revealed that one in 25 Portsmouth residents has had Covid-19 since the outbreak began last year.
Conservative cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt insisted getting the vaccine out to the nation was a top priority for the government.
The Portsmouth North MP added: ‘The vaccine is the key to beating this and getting out of lockdown. It should be our main effort and in Hampshire we are ahead of other areas in getting jabs in arms.
‘We are flying. Further centres are being stood up and an army of healthcare professionals and volunteers are stepping up to. I want to say a huge thanks to everyone pulling together to get this done.’