Lucy Holmes, Primary Care Wirral Health & Wellbeing Operations Manager, explains how non-clinical support from Wellbeing Practitioners (Social Prescribing Link Workers) and Health Coaches have facilitated the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in Wirral.
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The challenge of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented level of role repurposing across the NHS in the last 12 months.
Service changes and the evolving nature of what has been required at different points has meant the flexibility and commitment of healthcare staff has been essential.
At Primary Care Wirral we have played our part in redeploying staff to where they are needed, from testing centres to vaccine clinics and across all levels of the operational structure of the vaccine roll out.
A key example of how we have done this is by moving Wellbeing Practitioners (Social Prescribing Link Workers) and Health Coaches to support vaccination teams at The Oval Leisure Centre, Victoria Central Health Centre, Woodchurch Leisure Centre and St. Catherine’s Health Centre.
Since December 15, the Social Prescribing Team has assisted with vaccination bookings, patient registrations, signposting at the centres and administrative and IT systems support.
This added level of assistance has enabled practices to run their normal operations without disturbance, whilst also delivering the Covid-19 vaccine at their sites.
The experience of the Social Prescribing Team in dealing with vulnerable patients has provided a vital aid in the early stages of Wirral’s vaccination roll out, with high-risk groups often requiring tailored support from phone call to jab.
This included giving clear information on the vaccines, to counter false information and ensure patients are given the facts ahead of their vaccine.
As Health and Wellbeing Operations Manager, I am so proud of my team and the resilience they have shown in giving a vital pressure release to clinical and non-clinical colleagues during such a difficult time.
Lucy Holmes, PCW Health & Wellbeing Operations Manager
