Barts Health vaccination team shortlisted for HSJ award | Our news

The Barts Health Covid-19 vaccination outreach team – based at the NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre on The Street at Westfield – have been shortlisted for a HSJ award. The Barts Health and East London Partnership* have been shortlisted for a Health and Local Government Partnership Award for their monumental efforts working together to get Covid-19 vaccines where they’re needed most for the people of north east London.

Working in partnership with local councils, for the last eight months, the team have been bringing vaccines to local communities in a bid to increase uptake and address people’s concerns and hesitancy. And it’s worked.

They have set up vaccination clinics in places of worship, including mosques and Gurdwaras; homeless centres; community centres, including those focused on the refugee population; buses and more. Incredibly, across these venues the team have delivered over 18,000 vaccines to people who otherwise may not have chosen to have one.

The clinics are a mix of booked appointments (which council colleagues help with) and walk-ins. And in some locations, like the East London Mosque, they have become a weekly event that people enquire about.

“We know that certain groups of people and communities are less likely to take up the offer of a vaccine”, explains Tejal Patel, Head of Pharmacy responsible for collaborating with system and community partners in delivering the programme. “Through our outreach service, we wanted to address some of these concerns and offer the vaccines to these communities in a familiar, convenient setting”.

She continues, ““The feedback we get from people who attend the clinics is brilliant. People have told us that going somewhere like their local church, community hall or mosque to be vaccinated, rather than a big centre, makes it less daunting; they feel comfortable receiving a vaccine in a local familiar environment. They feel reassured seeing familiar faces, such as local faith leaders, at the centre and by having staff available who can speak to them in their native language to answer any concerns.”

Such an extensive programme requires very close collaboration between Barts Health and local partners. Dr Chris Gordon, Director of Improvement and clinical lead for the vaccination centre and outreach team explains: “We work with Health and council colleagues to identify areas that need a different approach to delivering vaccines. We have a process that’s easy to understand that allows rapid accreditation for most venues and once we’re happy everything meets the required standards, we set up shop.

“We took a quality improvement approach to setting up the first few clinics, which meant we could design and make improvements quickly and safely. We now have a very efficient and responsive service, though we are still learning every day. Our success really has depended upon the amazing energy, commitment and collaboration from so many community, charitable and faith communities we have met along the way.

“I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to Tejal, Chris, the whole Barts Health vaccination outreach team and the local system and community partners they worked with across north east London on being shortlisted for this award”, says Andrew Hines, group director for corporate development and senior responsible officer for Covid-19 vaccines at Barts Health. “It’s an incredible achievement and one of which they should be very proud. The work they have done to help thousands of people receive a Covid-19 vaccine is truly impressive and they have played an invaluable role in getting us all back to doing the things we love.”

*The full title of the project shortlisted is: Barts Health, Public Health Teams of LB Hackney, LB Newham, LB Walthamstow & East London Partnership - working together to get the vaccine where it's needed most.

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