Since University Health Campus, in Highfield Campus, Southampton, opened as a vaccination site in January 2021, more than 90,000 people have been given the lifesaving COVID-19 jab.
The team, which is student-led, is made up of a host of different professionals including doctors, vaccinators, nurses, volunteers, administrators, and pharmacists.
Together they have worked to help improve patient experience by introducing digital solutions to share information so that patients don’t have to repeat themselves. They have also introduced a way to electronically measure queue times allowing them to monitor wait times more effectively.
These digital improvements to enhance patient experience has led to the site being nominated for Vaccination Service of the Year at the national General Practice Awards.
Charlotte Bevan, vaccination site lead, said: “We always want to make sure that people who come for their vaccination receive a really safe and quick service. Some of our digital work is unique and has really helped to streamline the process.
“For example, traditionally you would look for someone’s appointment by looking through a big file and searching alphabetically.
“Here, we ask people to give their date of birth and from that we can recall their details and then print it on a barcode which they have with them. It saves them from having to give details more than once, as others in the team can scan it and see, and means you can electronically add on the vaccination someone has had.
“We also use QR codes to understand how long waiting times are and then use this information to see how we can make appointments flow more smoothly so people don’t have to wait too long.”
As well as providing COVID-19 vaccinations, the site also delivers the flu jab and HPV and meningitis jabs for Southampton’s student population.
Michael Penston, digital transformation lead for the Southampton North Primary Care Network, said: “The team here is great and made up of lots of different groups such as students from the University of Southampton, the PCN and the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.
“It’s more than a team – we all work very closely and are so proud of the work we have done together, especially through some very difficult and tough times.
“We want to keep COVID away and by coming in for your vaccination when invited is a big step to protect yourself and each other.”
The awards night takes place on Friday 8 December when the team will find out if they pick up the main prize.
The vaccination programme continues to run and there’s still time to get your vaccination. So far almost 460,000 vaccinations have been delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and there thousands more available for those who are yet to book in.
Dr Matt Nisbet, GP and COVID-19 vaccination clinical lead for the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “The team at University Health Campus do an amazing job in helping to protect our communities and being shortlisted for a national award is great recognition of their work.
“Over the past two years they have worked seamlessly and tirelessly to deliver the lifesaving service, and we want to say a big thank you for this mammoth effort.”
People eligible during this year’s vaccination campaign include all aged 65 and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care staff, those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition, unpaid carers and household contacts of people with a weakened immune system.
To book an appointment call 119, visit the National Booking Service, speak to your GP practice, or download the NHS App.