Firefighters in Basingstoke have reached further and gone the extra mile to support others and transform their station into an NHS COVID-19 vaccination centre.
The teams at Basingstoke have worked closely with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Property and Facilities and ICT departments to ensure the site is ready to play a pivotal role in fighting COVID-19 by welcoming Solent NHS Trust partners to the site to administer vaccines to vulnerable members of the local community.
Working alongside health partners, as the fire service has done throughout the pandemic, the site will soon be ready to open and administer vaccines 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Group Manager Paul Reddish, who has led the preparations at Basingstoke Fire Station said:
“It really has been a team effort across the organisation to prepare the fire station for the vaccination clinics.
“Everyone has come together to play their part in ensuring Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is ready to protect our communities during this pandemic.
“Thank you to everyone involved, from our Property and Facilities team, to the partners we continue to support and collaborate with, our ICT department, as well those teams based here at Basingstoke who have adapted their ways of working to accommodate the vaccine process.”
Briefings with the management, teams and watches ahead of the works were well received with staff welcoming the opportunity to assist and showing an enthusiastic approach.
The Basingstoke teams have adjusted their working to prepare for the development of the site and accommodate the vaccination programme, at the same time as ensuring the station remains a safe environment to work and maintaining operational requirements.
As well as continuing to ensure fire cover is provided from the station, the Prince’s Trust team will remain at the West Ham Close site, with the Academy training centre currently exploring alternative venues for their courses.
Basingstoke Station Manager Keith Jones said:
“We are delighted that we are able to support the vaccine rollout here at Basingstoke Fire Station and play our part in protecting our local community from COVID-19.
“Our firefighters are adjusting our way of working as we prepare the site to fulfil the requirements of a vaccination centre.
“A lot of work has been undertaken with our health partners and across the entire organisation to reach this point and ensure that the fire service continues to make life safer.”