'If I could hug them I would': Leigh Park Greywell Pharmacy Covid-19 vaccine patient thanks staff
ONE of the patients at a new Covid-19 vaccination centre has expressed her gratitude to a pharmacy that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Yesterday, 76-year-old Maureen Nicholas was among the 206 people vaccinated by Greywell Pharmacy’s vaccination unit in Leigh Park’s shopping precinct.
The pensioner, who lives in Southbourne, says she was ‘amazed’ by how well run the centre was, and the kindness of both pharmacists and volunteers alike.
She also says incompetence in West Sussex with vaccinations left her with ‘no choice’ but to come to Hampshire for her jab.
Maureen said: ‘I should have had my vaccination already, but things have been slower here in West Sussex.
‘All of my friends in Emsworth have been vaccinated, and when I got my NHS letter through the closest centre available to me was in Leigh Park.
‘I had never been to the area – but there was a sign outside the pharmacy pointing people to the unit and a gentleman giving directions, which was so helpful.’
Maureen wanted to express her thanks to those operating the vaccination centre, which sits between Savers and Sue Ryder in the precinct.
She also believes more pharmacies should set themselves up as vaccine hubs, to accelerate the country’s immunisation.
‘They literally got things up and running in just a few days, it’s incredible,’ she said.
‘I don’t know who at the pharmacy came up with the idea but they deserve a lot of praise for a grand idea.
‘It's incredible that something like this can sprout up when other areas are complaining about not having the facilities for vaccine centres.
‘Getting the vaccine made me quite emotional actually – if I could hug them I would. Everyone there is an amazing person and deserves our thanks.’
The campaign is calling for more pharmacies to be used as vaccination centres, as many already deliver flu jabs to patients.
More than 150,000 people have signed the Change.org petition, and big names such as Sir Keir Starmer and Tony Blair have also pledged their support.