A care company is offering a free collection and drop-off service to help the elderly get to their Covid-19 vaccination appointments.

GP-led Vitality Home Health serves patients across Gravesend, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.

The company is making its two wheelchair access vehicles and four 4x4 cars available to transport residents free of charge, with strict Covid prevention measures in place for each journey.

Managing director Manpreet Singh said: “Getting to and from vaccination centres safely can be a challenge for many elderly people, especially those who may not have left their homes for months, who may be feeling anxious and now have reduced mobility.

“Many people don’t live close to their families and there’s been a degree of confusion over whether their relatives or friends can take them for their jabs.”

All of Vitality’s carers and drivers have been tested, and have received the first dose of the vaccine.

Throughout the pandemic, the company has not had a single positive case of Covid among its workforce, and procedures are in place to make it as safe as possible to transport residents.

Each journey is limited to either an individual, or two people who live together and can be treated at the same time.

All patients are given hand sanitiser, a fresh mask and have their temperature taken by the drivers who are all infection control trained. They are also trained in first aid and are manual handling qualified carers.

The drivers wear full PPE, including a mask or visor, throughout.

The driver will also escort passengers into the vaccination centre and take them to reception.

Before collecting the next patient, the driver airs out the vehicle for 20 minutes and spends a further 10 minutes on a full wipe down.

Vitality Home Health’s team of 80 health experts and carers offers homecare services for patients with dementia, learning and physical disabilities, as well as day care visits, live-in and respite care, plus hospital to home and end-of-life care support.

Operations director Debbie Moulton said: “We wanted to do whatever we could to help local residents especially during the current bad weather.

"The response has been amazing and we have even had GP surgeries contacting us for help and we’ve been very happy to do so.

“It’s great that vaccination centres have been set up across Kent, and thanks to our free service we will take a little pressure off the GPs and nurses by avoiding home visits and reduce the anxiety of patients and their families during these very difficult times.”

Call Vitality Home Health at Gravesend on 01474 240909 or at Sevenoaks on 01732 755582 to arrange a pick-up.

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