Metrobus and NHS launch Covid-19 vaccination bus in Sussex

Metrobus and the Alliance for Better Care (ABC), which represents GPs across Crawley, Horsham, mid-Sussex and East Surrey, will use the bus to target hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities.

The vaccination bus, which launched in Crawley yesterday, is expected to help out the NHS for the duration of the country’s vaccination programme. 

Julia Cooper Frailty Nurse – Community Vaccination Team, Alliance for Better Care Mobile Vaccination Unit, Crawley

Appointments for the mobile unit are by invitation only and are booked by the ABC’s GP practices are the public has been urged to wait for an invitation.

The bus was adapted by Metrobus’ engineers, by removing some handrails and seats to create more room for medical staff and their equipment.

The inbuilt one-way system and dual doors of the bus has allowed for a one in, one out approach.

Martin Harris, managing director at Brighton and Hove Buses and Metro Bus, said the bus provides a provide a self-contained, clean and safe location for vaccinations to take place.

Julia Cooper and Sylvie Blackmore – Community Vaccination Team, Alliance for Better Care Mobile Vaccination Unit, Crawley

He said: “We are exceptionally pleased and proud to get behind the rollout of the vital NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme, especially when it helps vulnerable people and hard-to-reach communities get their vaccines.

“I would like to thank Metrobus colleagues and our NHS partners, Alliance for Better Care, for their hard work in mobilising this service so quickly.

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Katherine Saunders, chief executive at Alliance for Better Care said: “We are really proud of our ABC Director Matt Cullis for coordinating this. It has real potential to get the COVID vaccine to hard-to-reach groups, something primary care really excels at.”

Metrobus is also running services to the new vaccination centre in Epsom Racecourse on Routes 460, 480 and 318.

The launch of the mobile vaccination unit comes after 32 new vaccination sites opened across the country this week.

A mass vaccination site opened at the Brighton Centre earlier this week and will be focusing on health and social care staff and priority patients.

NHS England said hundreds of thousands of letters have already been sent out to people over the age of 80 in the areas covered by the new sites, inviting them to book a jab.

The new centres will mean there is a network of 49 mass vaccination sites across England.

There are also 70 pharmacies offering the jab, as well as more than 1,000 GP surgeries and 250 hospitals