Leeds Covid vaccination centre volunteer role for furloughed Leeds Hospitality and Venues Association members

Members of Leeds Hospitality and Venues Association (LHVA) have stepped in to act as marshals at vaccinations centres, ensuring that patients arriving are properly greeted and directed about what they need to do.

LHVA member Valerie Donaldson, general manager at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the city centre, said: “Covid has really taken its toll on the hospitality industry and many of our members are currently furloughed and unable to work due to the pandemic."

Throughout the crisis, LHVA has been working with the NHS to provide accommodation for key workers who cannot safely go home to their families.

And since the vaccination programme began last month, its members have been ready to step forward where needed to give more support.

Ms Donaldson said: "Oakwood Lane Medical Practice, the Seacroft Primary Care Network local vaccination centre, is currently rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination to high-risk category patients as quickly as possible and in big numbers.

"With the team running at capacity, when the manager asked for help manage large numbers of patients quickly and safely, we asked our LHVA members to step in.

“I know that people who work in the hospitality industry hate to have idle hands. Whilst we are not clinically skilled, we have great organisation skills, crowd control management and offer care in a hospitable way.

"It seemed like the perfect match to make this work in our community, allowing the clinicians to focus on what is needed and using the hospitality staff to support. We know how to feed and water people, so Radisson Blu supplied complimentary hot drinks and mince pies were plentiful to all the volunteers to keep them going.”

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The volunteer marshals are given some refresher training around social distancing rules and managing vulnerable patients. They are also supplied a non-clinical uniform so that they are identifiable as part of the medical practices’ wider team.

Mark Donaldson, of Oakwood Lane Medical Practice, said: "This is a really challenging time for our practitioners. They are working around the clock to vaccinate as many vulnerable patients as quickly as possible.

"We are really grateful of the support from our LHVA volunteers from Hilton, Oulton Hall and Radisson Blu. Their hospitality skills can come to the fore as they manage large numbers of people with care, a sense of humour and a smile on their face.”

It comes as the Yorkshire Evening Post continues its A Shot in the Arm campaign focused on the national vaccination programme.

Run alongside sister titles across JPIMedia, it urges Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deploy the country’s network of 11,000 pharmacies to ensure that every citizen is only a short walk away from a vaccination centre.

Our campaign also requests further reassurance for local communities from the Government and more easy-to-access information on the vaccine programme and its progress.

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