Saturday 27th March 2021
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Report written by Helen Conner (she/her)
7 Goodgym volunteers arrived for their shift at the Bath Pavilion at 1145. We were asked to do a flow test. A new requirement for our volunteers. So, we took it in turns to stick a cotton tipped stick up our noses to wag about for 10 circles. Many sneezes later, and 30 minutes to wait for the results we were all given the all clear.
The centre was very busy. The late afternoon shift was cancelled and our shift had been cut short so many visitors were condensed into a much shorter space of time.
We were forewarned about a local protest happening in Bath at 1415 and the potential for it coming to the vaccination centre. This was the reason for the shift finishing earlier and there were a few changes at the centre. The usual back door was closed and all visitors would leave at the staff entrance.
We were all given our volunteer positions, with Tom and Helen at the front door to ensure visitors knew where to park and queued socially distant at the door.
All other volunteers were within the centre, Alice was at the exit door, Emily on the chairs, Jane reading out the questions, Pascale was taking temperatures and Allie was guiding visitors to their vaccine booths.
The queues were much bigger in the centre on Saturday so it was essential that we kept the flow going. There were a few nervous visitors so with big smiles hidden behind our face masks we tried to give our Goodgym volunteer cheer to help everyone feel at ease.
Time flew by and before we knew it the shift had finished. Although we didn't see any demonstrators we did say hi to the riot police who had arrived at the end of the shift who parked up at the side of the building.
All staff and visitors were very appreciative of our time and everyone can be proud to say that they were part of this fights against the virus.
BEMS is the local GP federation linking together all the General Practices across B&NES. It is a not-for-profit organisation and every practice in the area is a member of BEMS. We are based in Bath and work to support practices and their staff to look after their patients.
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