Letter: What Is Happening At Artington Vaccination Centre?

Published on: 18 Oct, 2021
Updated on: 18 Oct, 2021

From Helen Avery

Having read on The Guildford Dragon NEWS that the above centre is open as a walk-in centre, I went there this morning for the third booster jab the government wants us older folk to have.

Sadly, signs stated it was closed all day. No reason was given.

A tiny notice stated it is then only open from 10.30am.

Other cars were also trying to drive in to park for jabs, a constant procession in and out of the car park.

It is very frustrating, especially for folk who had to drive some distance.

Responses to Letter: What Is Happening At Artington Vaccination Centre?

Laura brown Reply

October 18, 2021 at 9:09 pm

It’s not completely drop in, it takes referrals from GPs and their website gives opening hours (not open Mondays in October). There is a phone number to book appointments if you want.
- Paola Polden Reply
  
  December 10, 2021 at 10:35 am
  
  Artington is advertised as a “walk-in” but I have now been turned down three times with one excuse or another. So it cannot really be defined as “walk-in”. I was advised that at 8am weekdays are not busy, but that does not really help if one works as a teacher.
  
  Editor’s response: The NHS Surrey Heartlands website states: “Walk-in appointments for vaccinations are sometimes available, but they not guaranteed in peak times. To see walk-in options available to you, see http://www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab.
Anthony Mallard Reply

October 19, 2021 at 8:50 am

It would appear that the vaccine service for Guildford and Waverley is not being well publicized.

One has to wonder why it isn’t possible to have the booster vaccine with the flu jab at one’s own GP surgery, rather than through the outsourced ProCare facility.

Confusion is aggravated by the NHS COVID website, which when I used it didn’t seem to cover booster jabs and because I wasn’t a front-line worker advised I wasn’t eligible.

However, the ProCare website is more helpful and does advise that the Artington site is not open on Mondays – though it doesn’t say why – and gives times it is open and a telephone number to call for an appointment (01483 362522).

It takes some investigative work to navigate the bureaucracy but I received an appointment for two days after the 6 month period after my second COVID jab. I also understand that the Artington site is open during the publicized times for ‘walk-in’ appointments.
Georgina Grant Reply

October 19, 2021 at 1:07 pm

I am very surprised that The Guildford Dragon said Artington was a walk-in centre. We have had our boosters but these were as a result of receiving a message to make an appointment.

Editor’s note: The Artington vaccination centre says: “Walk-in vaccinations are available for anyone over 16 within the allowed groups up until 5pm.” Their website is https://www.procarehealth.co.uk/projects/covid-vaccinations/.
Peter Challens Reply

October 19, 2021 at 7:01 pm

I had contacted Procare who operate the Artington vaccination centre and they sent me the opening times and said that no appointment was necessary for a booster jab, just walk in.

I went at 3pm on Tuesday afternoon and was told as I drove in that no more walk-ins were being accepted this day and to try again tomorrow.

Sorry Procare, I am not making the journey in the hope of being let in.

The former Chief Scientific Officer has being telling news media he cannot understand why the boosters are going so slowly. Look no further than Guildford.
Georgina Grant Reply

October 20, 2021 at 2:29 pm

I have been told by some elderly friends in the Wonersh area who do not drive that Artington is not the best location as there is no direct bus service. It would seem to be sure of getting a vaccination slot, it is worth making an appointment rather than relying on “walking in”.
Brian Holt Reply

October 20, 2021 at 10:02 pm

I had my booster Jab on Sunday afternoon, made by appointment for 3-10pm, at Artington. The waiting area was full of mainly very elderly people.

It took me 50 minutes to come out. I had my jab 35 minutes after the appointment time.

When you have so many people waiting with appointments, they are delayed by people turning up without appointments. This is not fair.

There should certain days or times for walk in people to attend, to avoid a long wait.
Anthony Mallard Reply

October 21, 2021 at 2:34 pm

I am very impressed with the arrangements by ProCare at the Artington site when I visited this afternoon for my booster.

I arrived a little early for my 1.20pm appointment but was immediately ushered into the waiting area, processed and vaccinated in 15 minutes.

Following the suggested post vaccination wait, I was out before my scheduled appointment time. All the volunteers and staff were most helpful. I encourage those who qualify for a vaccination or booster to telephone the number 01483 362522 and book your slot.
Guy Sutlieff Reply

October 25, 2021 at 5:20 pm

It clearly isn’t working very well: my 91-year-old mother, a patient at Saint Luke’s Surgery has not been contacted by Procare, despite being phoned by them for her Civic Hall jabs.

We had her booked in via the NHS for somewhere in Woking for last Sunday, but that got cancelled by text, so she is now booked in for Woking (again via the NHS) for a week Monday.
Barbara Ford Reply

October 28, 2021 at 4:26 pm

I had my booster at Artington on Tuesday 26 – a very friendly and impressively well-organised and slick operation.

The longest part was the 15 minutes I had to wait for them to answer the phone so I could book my appointment, but the warmth and helpfulness of the friendly person who answered and the speed of the whole process more than made up for that.

They were clearly operating at capacity, so it is not surprising if they don’t take walk-ins any more, and their website seems to have been updated to reflect that.

If you are eligible for a jab, or will be within a few days, do ring them on 01483 362522 and book your slot.