NHS England have sent letters directly to all patients over the age of 70 that give patients the opportunity to book into newly opened mass vaccination sites, as the letter says if you do not wish to travel then wait to hear from your GP for a more local appointment.

Dr Catherine Rogers, Clinical Director of North Shropshire Primary Care Network said: “GP practices across North Shropshire are currently contacting all patients in priority groups 1-4 to book into our two local vaccination hubs at Prees Medical Practice and Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt hospital in Oswestry.

All our practices expect to have contacted and offered appointments to all patients in groups 1-4 by mid-February in line with the national target.

Please do not ring your GP surgery or RJAH directly. We are currently overwhelmed with patient calls which means that our unwell patients are unable to get through to access the medical attention they require. As with all areas of the NHS at the moment we are exceptionally busy with sick patients and we need to ensure that they have access to clinical care. .

If we are answering the phones to queries about vaccines it also means that this time cannot be spent contacting patients to book them into vaccine appointments.

We have the capacity to offer all patients in groups 1-4 appointments within this timeframe so please do not worry that you will not be offered an appointment soon.

We would like to thank all of our patients for your understanding at this time and look forward to welcoming you for your vaccine appointments.”