The Holiday Inn Winchester has today been officially opened by local MP, Steve Brine, as a COVID-19 vaccine centre.

The Holiday Inn Winchester have teamed up with the NHS and Winchester Rural North and East Primary Care Network to begin the process of vaccinating local residents.

The Winchester Rural North and East Primary Care Network is a relatively new organisation of six practices working collaboratively to provide excellent healthcare to a population of 43,000 patients. Stockbridge, Gratton, Two Rivers (Whitchurch), Alresford, Watercress (Ropley) and West Meon surgeries have come together at the Holiday Inn Winchester to vaccinate local patients over 80 years old, as well as care home workers and residents who have been identified in the priority groups for the vaccine.

With over a thousand vaccinations already carried out in the area, this will increase significantly over the coming weeks and months thanks to the effort of everybody associated with delivering the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.

Louis Rigney, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Winchester, was delighted to be able to offer the hotel as support for the COVID-19 vaccine programme. He said: “It’s a privilege to be able to offer our assistance in delivering the roll out of this all-important vaccine”

The Holiday Inn Winchester remains open in-line with Tier 2 restrictions. This means that the hotel is fully open for those who need to travel for business or leisure. The restaurant & bar will be open, but alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal. Guests must adhere to social distancing rules by not mixing with other households and the maximum rule of six applies to all table bookings.

The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS or any a vaccination centre before then. For more information, please visit the NHS website.