Volunteers have spoken of the emotional experience and "feel good" factor after their local Covid-19 vaccination centre administered its final jab.

Oakfield Health Centre in Windsor Road, Gravesend was first given the go-ahead to roll-out innoculations to elderly and vulnerable patients back in December.

It came as pictures circulated online of the elderly seen queuing for long periods of time in the cold outside a sister vaccine centre.

As part of the Gravesend Alliance primary care network, Oakfield stepped up to work alongside Springhead Health and the Shrubberry and Riverview Park Surgery to get jabs into arms.

On Wednesday Oakfield Health brought its operation to a close after administering a complete set of first and second vaccines to the most vulnerable groups.

The centre ran regular clinics up to three times a week, helping to vaccinate thousands more in key periods over the last five months.

And while vaccinations are very much a routine part of general practice, efforts on this scale would not have been possible had it not been for its loyal band of volunteers.

Whether it be marshalling arrivals at the car park in the wind and rain, reassuring nervous patients or simply wiping down seats.

Fuelled by endless cups of tea, biscuits and collective goodwill, some have clocked up more than 60 hours to play their part.

On the centre's last day I spent an afternoon with some of the volunteers who have been dedicating large chunks of their own time since December to get their take on the last few months.

Upon my arrival I'm greeted by the friendly and smiling face of local resident Anne-Marie Atterbury-Reeves.

Anne-Marie first got involved after spotting a post advertising a need for volunteers on a Singlewell Facebook group and put her name forward with wife Tracy.

"It was helping out local residents," the 57-year-old said "A lot of patients were anxious about being out and they wanted to feel safe.

"There was a lot of emotion and people frightened about it."

As a hairdresser putting clients at ease is something Anne-Marie is well accustom to in the day job and so when furloughed she stepped forward to feel the void.

"Just having someone there to talk to made a difference," she added.

Of course patients need to be called to come and have their vaccine in the first place and volunteers played a huge role in helping to relieve pressure on the surgery's admin teams.

Retired operations manager Pauline Huddle has dedicated in excess of 60 hours helping out at the centre alongside her husband.

Pauline can normally be found volunteering as a room guide at the National Trust's 17th century Owletts manor house in Cobham.

"It was like telling people they had won the lottery"

But when that closed she was contacted via a member of Gravesend MP Adam Holloway's staff to see if she could lend a hand on the phones.

"When we were making phone calls the first couple of times it was like telling people they had won the lottery," she said.

"Even getting the second vaccine they were still elated."

Pauline added how their was a real "feel good" factor among both staff and volunteers working side-by-side.

They even have a Whatsapp group they all belong to and share supportive messages on.

A personal highlight for Pauline has been seeing the reactions on the faces of people and their families after getting their jab.

"I think that has made it a pleasurable experience and the staff here have been great," she added.

Without further ado I'm whisked off to to Covid-19 vaccination centre room six where sadly I won't be receiving my jab but I am instead greeted by vaccinators Kerry Page and Kay Wade to talk me through what I can expect.

They explain how each vaccine is made up and what safety checks are in place.

I'm told every individual vile contains around eight to nine doses and this needs to be carefully measured, stored and administered to ensure the full benefits.

"The slow process has helped as it has never been manic," said Kerry.

Although she explains there is often a more frenetic window at the end of the day when doses need to be used up or thrown away.

Asked what one of the most common questions after is I'm told, perhaps unsurprisingly, it's whether they can "take a photo for Instagram".

"We've had a bit of a laugh doing it really," she adds.

But jokes aside, Kerry explains while some camera shots may be less than candid they can still have a positive influence with some women from certain ethnic groups choosing to share their snaps to encourage others to get the vaccine.

The surgery itself has remained open throughout this time via a mix of e-consults and face-to-face appointments.

As my whistle-stop tour of the facilities draws to a close I pay a visit to practice partner Dr Rubin Minhas.

He thanked all the volunteers for their efforts which have allowed the main surgery to continue serving patients and plan for what he has dubbed "the great surge".

By this he means the inevitable wave of patients returning to their GP in large numbers for treatment and advice.

"We are seeing the waiting times being reported and they are getting much longer by the day," the doctor said.

"Six to nine months worth and they are going to get longer and longer."

The surgery has taken on more specialist and reception staff and will be "scaling up" its operations to meet the demand.

But much like other areas of life the health centre will also be bracing itself for a "new normal" where e-consults, triaging and other procedures may be here to stay.

Dr Minhas says e-consults services in particular have worked extremely well for "time poor" patients, especially the young, but they would need to be mindful of the time rich and the elderly who prefer more traditional approaches to consultation.

As I conclude my afternoon at Oakfield Health, general manager Denise Payne welcomes me back outside where she heaps praise on her loyal volunteers who she called her "angels".

"They are part of a team that will go down in history," she said.

"We had so many volunteers different ages, gender and from all walks of life and they gelled and instantly became part of our team.

She added: "They played a huge part in making this successful.

"Not only so we could continue to run a general practice but also their commitment, positivity, team spirit to show even at the worst of times their is good in the world."

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