Vaccine recipients 'are like children with the excitement'

More than two years after retirement as a GP at Lytham Fernbank Surgery, Dr Simon Ellwood has returned to the practice’s base at Lytham Primary Care Centre to join the team of medics providing the vaccine to Fylde folk in the target age groups.

Joining him are wife Karen, who has experience as a nurse, and their 22-year-old son James, who is looking to pursue a medical career following a physician’s associate course he hopes to start at the University of Central Lancashire later this year.

Simon, 60, spent 32 years as a GP at Fernbank up to his retirement in May 2018 and had no hesitation answering the call when a national appeal was made for retired medics to help with the vaccine rollout.

“It’s great to see the vaccine available now in Fylde and it is important we do all we can to make the process as smooth and speedy as possible,” he said.

“Karen was a nurse before we had family and she and the wonderful team at Lytham are there to help look after the people receiving the vaccine.

“Also being involved is great experience for James, who initially studied psychology and now has his sights set on a physician’s associate course and has been gathering experience ahead of a course starting in September.

“The vaccinations are of course a vital step out of lockdown and it has been great to see how enthusiastic so many of the recipients so far have been about the opportunity to be given it.

“Many of the age group involved in the process so far haven’t been out since first lockdown so they are like children with their reaction of excitement at this key step forward.

“It is important they are welcomes with a friendly face and it all goes as smoothly as possible and we are all delighted to be involved.”

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