Sarah Dines MP has written to Ministers and Derby and Derbyshire CCG to highlight the need for a vaccination centre in Matlock.
Sarah Dines MP said, ‘I raised the need for a vaccination site in Matlock, even before the vaccination programme was officially launched. I know that there have been a variety of logistical and health and safety reasons why Matlock has not been deemed a suitable site for a vaccination centre, but I continue to receive correspondence from constituents asking for one, so I am trying again. I have written to the Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi and to the Derby and Derbyshire CCG to ask for a vaccination site in Matlock. Matlock is a large community and the population of the wider Matlock urban area (including Darley Dale, Tansley, Hackney and Matlock Bath) is approximately 20,000. Currently the nearest large vaccination sites are in Bakewell which is a 20-minute journey by car, or Ashbourne, which is a 32-minute journey by car. If a permanent vaccination site is not possible, I have asked them to look into a ‘popup’ site for the area, which have been a great success in other parts of the country. I have also asked them to confirm their reasoning if they still maintain that a vaccine site at Matlock is not possible.
We have had a fantastic response from residents taking up the offer of a vaccine and the team in Derbyshire leading the programme are doing a fantastic job. I want to make sure that getting a vaccination is easy and I do not want to see anyone put off from getting a vaccination if they are struggling to travel to one of the existing sites. I will continue to update residents on my progress with this matter.’
