Pateley Bridge Pharmacy Archives

Covid vaccine banners stolen from Pateley Bridge

Two large banners advertising covid booster vaccinations have been pulled down and stolen from Pateley Bridge.

The banners were attached to the walls outside Pateley Bridge Pharmacy on the town’s High Street and outside Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road.

Both banners advertised vaccines at the pharmacy, which has been at the forefront of the local covid campaign.

The banner attached to the pharmacy.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for information about the thefts, which occurred overnight on either Monday or Tuesday last week.

It did not comment on the possible reasons for the theft.

The banner attached to the Memorial Hall.

The banners were bright yellow and measured approximately 1 metre x 2 metres.

Police said:

“Anybody with information about this crime can email bill.hickson@northyorkshire.police.uk, call 101, or report on-line at www.northyorkshire.police.uk. Please quote reference 12230080065.

“Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555 111 or online at the Crimestoppers website.”

New funeral directors at Harrogate firm

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Independent funeral directors W Bowers has appointed two new funeral directors.

The firm, which was founded in 1945 by Billie and Josephine Bowers, has branches in Harrogate and Hampsthwaite.

New appointees Michael Primrose and Ella Benson are both from Harrogate.

Mr Primrose previously worked with the public in the construction sector.

Ms Benson has previous experience in the funeral industry and has also worked as a carer.

The company said in a statement:

“We are confident they will ensure the future of the company as we are committed to remain a family business bringing that personal and comforting support to all the clients we are honoured to serve.”

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy wins award

Samina Khan (centre) at the awards.

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy has been recognised for its efforts providing the covid vaccine in Nidderdale.

The pharmacy has been a lifeline for people in Pateley Bridge who want to receive the vaccine but struggle to travel to other sites, such as Knaresborough and Ripon.

At the Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire Awards, the Pateley Bridge business was named team of the year.

Samina Khan, director of the pharmacy, was runner-up in the pharmacist of the year and the unsung hero categories. Ms Khan said:

“I really wanted us to win team of the year because it recognises everyone’s hard work setting up a covid clinic.”

The pharmacy is still providing covid vaccine clinics, with one scheduled today.

Vaccine sites in Harrogate district gearing up for spring boosters

Vaccination sites in the Harrogate district are preparing to get busy again following the announcement of spring booster jabs.

Covid clinics in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge have wound down or paused since December.

But that is about to change after the government said people aged 75 and over, care home residents and people with weakened immune systems can now book fourth jabs.

Yorkshire Health Network, which is a federation of 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district, operates sites at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races.

The showground will have its next clinic from 8.30am to 5pm on April 1.

Vaccinations started at Ripon racecourse this afternoon.

The Ripon Races site.

Dates at Ripon Races are being finalised so they don’t clash with horse race meetings.

Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, said:

“We anticipate uptake to be high in the 75 and overs as Harrogate has a large population in that cohort.”

Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge

Homecare Pharmacy Services’ site in Knaresborough.

Homecare Pharmacy’ Service‘s vaccination site at Chain Lane in Knaresborough is to add Monday covid clinics to its existing Friday and Saturday clinics. Bookings are encouraged to avoid having to wait.

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, which paused its vaccination programme in December, plans to start again soon.

Samina Khan, who owns the pharmacy, said:

“I think we will restart in April, with bookings from March 25, but we are still finalising details.”

Infections rocketing

It comes as infection rates continue to soar in the Harrogate district.

The seven-day infection rate is now 885 per 100,000 people. It was 343 at the start of the month.

It is the highest rate in North Yorkshire and above the England rate of 833.

Harrogate West and Pannal Ash is the worst affected area in the county. It has recorded 135 positive cases in the last seven days.

Pateley Bridge vaccine heroes treated to thank-you meal

About 60 volunteers who gave up their time to help administer over 10,000 covid jabs in Pateley Bridge have been treated to a thank-you meal.

Samina Khan, owner of Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, and Dr Lewis Caplin, a GP who played a key role in the Nidderdale town’s vaccination programme, organised the event.

The pharmacy wound down its programme in December but is now set to provide more clinics following the announcement that people aged 75 and over, care home residents and those with weakened immune systems can book spring boosters.

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy was awarded an NHS England contract to give jabs at its third time of applying.

Some opposed the move, saying local people could attend the GP-run vaccine centres in Harrogate and Ripon. But not everyone was able to get to those locations easily.

Ms Khan said:

“A lot of our patients were relying on transport to get to the other places and it was costing them £60 for round trips, which is a lot of money.”

The pharmacy began giving jabs in April and administered 350 a day at its peak.

Ms Khan said if Dr Caplin, a retired GP in Pateley Bridge, hadn’t agreed to oversee the vaccinations “I don’t think I would have been able to pursue it”.

The volunteers, who included vaccinators, marshals and administrative staff, enjoyed a free Indian meal at Cardamon Black restaurant in Harrogate on Sunday.

Ms Khan, who has also given volunteers gift vouchers, said: