NHS celebrates county health van scheme success
A JOINT pilot scheme between the NHS and Hampshire County Council saw almost 1,000 COVID-19 vaccinations alongside 300 blood pressure checks delivered in a mobile health van; which travelled across the county during a nineteen week period over spring / summer.
The health van was first launched in April and was on the road to help deliver Covid-19 vaccines to vulnerable people after the pandemic; whilst also sharing public health messaging and checks to communities who may not find accessing this type of preventative healthcare easy.
It was run by NHS Hampshire & Isle of Wight and funded by Hampshire County Council with the van travelling to multiple towns / areas across the region; first featuring as part of the national Covid-19 vaccination spring campaign. Although no exact figures have been released, it is believed that this was successful due to its convenient location and on-board facilities.
A total of 324 blood pressure checks were carried out on the vehicle in addition to vaccinations, whilst sixty two people took advice on healthy eating / weight management and 271 were helpfully signposted to different NHS services for extra support. Feedback came from 276 people as a hundred percent said they would use the service again, whilst 99% rated it five out of five stars.
Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and Clinical Lead for the NHS Hampshire & Isle of Wight COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “It was great to see we were able to deliver hundreds of COVID-19 vaccinations to people much closer to their homes, making it easier for them to access healthcare.
“For lots of different reasons, we recognise it may not always be easy for people to get to a GP practice or to a community pharmacy, not just for vaccinations but also for support and information on a range of topics such as blood pressure checks, healthy weight and menopause support.”
He concluded: “People were also offered longer appointment times, which meant there was more time to talk to people about any concerns or questions they had. Now that this pilot scheme has ended, we can review what worked well and see what we can adopt into our plans for the autumn and winter vaccination campaign that will be starting soon for eligible cohorts.”
Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Services & Public Health, further praised the project’s successes. She said: “The roving van project has brought essential health services directly to many residents, making it quick and easy for those who might otherwise struggle to access them. “
“We want as many people as possible to receive vital vaccinations when they’re eligible for them and to have all-important health checks at the right time – and offering these services in the heart of the community in this way has been very well received by local people.”
PICTURED BY NHS HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF WIGHT: Resident is given Covid-19 vaccination on-board the health van, which has been travelling around the country for a nineteen week trial.
