Council leader Keith Aspden and Phil Mettam from Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) took the opportunity to meet Prof Mike Holmes at the York Vaccination Centre last week, as Mr Mettam attended for his second vaccination.

The City leaders are key players in the reorganisation of health and social care services in York which aims to improve health and social care services in our area.

The three are working with other York organisations as part of the newly established York Health and Care Alliance group to focus more on the specific health problems faced by local people. This follows a recent Government white paper, detailing how it will reform health and social care by creating 42 new bodies called Integrated Care Systems (ICS) by April 2022.

The aim of the Alliance will be to strengthen health, care and public services in the city, by building healthcare locally around residents, rather than around organisations. By doing so, the council and its partners can better tackle health inequalities which existed by COVID, but have been magnified by it, and improve the general health and wellbeing of the York population.

This region’s ICS – The Humber Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership – will cover North Yorkshire, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.

The York Health and Social Care Alliance will sit under the ICS at a local level and includes City of York Council, CCG, the hospital trusts, Nimbuscare, St Leonard’s Hospice, York Schools and academies Board and primary care network representatives.

Cllr Aspden said: "It was fantastic to visit the vaccination site and see first-hand the incredible efforts that have gone into making this such a success. The way the city has come together to make this happen is inspiring and I want to thank all the volunteers and staff involved, as well as those who are accessing the site to get their first and second doses.

"The work taking place to vaccinate people in the city gives us real hope that better times are ahead. In the meantime, I would urge everyone to support this incredible work by remembering hands, face, space and answering the call to get the jab when it comes.”

Mr Mettam said: “This was my second visit to the York Vaccination Centre, it keeps adapting and improving. Once again, I was really impressed by the arrangements, the mix of GPs, nurses, the military, administrators and volunteers creates a real team effort. It’s truly humbling to see how this new service has stirred into action so many local people who just want to help and play a part."

Prof Holmes said: “This collaborative effort means we can put services in place at scale for all residents – the important things for the people of York which will impact on their health, wellbeing and general quality of life.

“We’re building on the successful partnership work in setting up our York Vaccination Centre. It feels like it has worked very well and we want to harness that enthusiasm and energy here in York and keep the momentum going in all aspects of health and social care.”

The York Vaccination Centre continues to progress with giving second dose vaccinations this month. The vaccine supply for second doses is secure and people are being encouraged to keep their appointments. They will receive a text to book an appointment if they have not already got a date, so are asked to look out for their invitation.

More than 170,000 vaccines have already been delivered, including 31,000 second dose vaccinations. Over 90% of the cohort 1-9 (over 50s, health and social care staff and the clinically vulnerable) in our region have received at least one vaccine and almost 50% of the whole population of our region has received a vaccination.

Nationally, there continue to be fluctuations in vaccine supply so York is currently focusing on making sure everyone gets their second vaccination as planned.

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