GP Federation Works with Local Partners to Launch Mobile Vaccination Unit in Surrey

GP Federation, Alliance for Better Care (ABC), has launched a new Covid-19 Mobile Vaccination Unit today in Surrey, aimed at providing vaccinations to people who face additional challenges accessing vaccination sites. The project, which is staffed by ABC’s Community Team is the second Mobile Vaccination Unit to be launched by the federation and has, once again, been created in partnership with Metrobus.

The first site to host the bus in Surrey is the Merstham Community Hub which is run by the Merstham Community Facilities Trust. The unit’s locations are planned by ABC’s central team, working with the local GP practices and other community hosts.

Appointments for the mobile unit are by invitation only and are booked by the federation’s GP practices. The team therefore ask that the public wait to be invited.

ABC has partnered with numerous local organisations to bring the project to life including, Moathouse Surgery, Merstham Community Hub, Merstham Mix Café and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

Lena Abdu, PCN Development Manager at Alliance for Better Care, is leading the Surrey project. She said: “We are extremely proud to have rolled out a second Mobile Vaccination Unit in the region. The first unit, which ABC launched in Crawley, was the brainchild of Leacroft Practice Manager, Matt Cullis and was a huge success in broadening the reach of our vaccination programme. Our aim has always been to ensure that every member of our community is afforded access to the vaccine and the bus has become an essential component in doing just that.”

Leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Mark Brunt said: “We are delighted that this mobile facility will be hosted in Merstham – to help some of our more vulnerable residents and those less able to travel to receive the vaccine. We are also pleased to be able to support this important initiative with the help of our incredible local volunteers, who continue to give their time to the collective battle against coronavirus.”

The bus provides a self-contained, clean and safe location for vaccinations to take place, and benefits from its inbuilt one-way system.

Brighton & Hove and Metrobus Managing Director Martin Harris said: “We are pleased and proud to get behind the roll out of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme. I’d like to thank Metrobus colleagues and our NHS partners, Alliance for Better Care, for their hard work in mobilising this vital service so quickly.”

Alliance for Better Care is a GP Federation covering East Surrey, Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex. It has launched seven vaccination sites and its team have administered more than 90,000 vaccinations to date. 

For more information, visit Alliance For Better Care's website.