Thousands vaccinated at Sheffield GP practice in just three days after 'huge system error'

Dr Ollie Hart is the director of the Heeley-Plus Primary Care Network, which has set up the vaccination hub at the Matthews Practice.

He revealed how the centre had administered 2,500 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in just three and a half days, despite encountering some problems.

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“We had to respond to a huge system error that meant we were delivered 410 vials of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines instead of the 195 we were expecting. We responded positively as a community team, can-do and collaboratively.

“Whilst we vaccinated, Our volunteers made it work. Reminiscent of Olympic ‘games makers’, they helped frightened older people feel safe and valued, with warmth and smiles. It’s one of our greatest ‘British’ assets.

"But the organisation of volunteers worked because it was local. No national data bases or grandiose aspirations. Local relationships, word of mouth, trust built over decades.

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"Many healthcare staff volunteered as extras too. They wanted to be part of something special. It’s not just what you do , but how you do it that inspires people and moves them to contribute.

“We are very grateful to the scientists and science that gave us this opportunity. Just incredible we have the technology to manipulate our immune system like this. We appreciate the painstaking experimentation and thought to get us here.”

Dr Hart added that ‘digital innovation’ had played an important role but claimed the bureaucracy involved was ‘ridiculous and didn’t work’.

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“We were ready to go on December 21, stood down four days before, then still had no confirmation of delivery times until day before, and then got twice what we expected. They were coming from storage six miles away! Surely it’s not that hard!” he said.

"The guidance was crippling. Thirty-page documents of conflicting advice nearly everyday. So much information was overwhelming and dangerous. The human mind can’t process and hold that much so quickly. Especially with such pace of change.

“We operated with 2 simple mantras. Don’t waste any opportunity to get vaccine to those most in need asap. Do no harm (don’t give people covid, risk falls or exposure, or make people feel undervalued as a person).

“To achieve this we needed some core basic information about the vaccines, and then the freedom and trust to operate in our own known context with safety and care, like we do every day.

“So I am immensely proud of our team. Our staff filled rotas, responded constantly to changes to the plan and and rapid training requirements. Our steering team worked long stressful hours to ‘land this jumbo on a sixpence’.”

Nadhim Zahawi, the minister in charge of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, has said 15 million people across the UK in the top four priority groups should have been offered a vaccination by mid-February.

He also told Sky News that police officers, teachers and other critical workers would be in the ‘highest category of phase two’ of the vaccination programme.