Pure Gym to open in former Knaresborough supermarket

A Pure Gym is set to open in a former Knaresborough covid vaccine centre and Lidl supermarket.

The Lidl on York Road closed in 2018 when the supermarket relocated to a larger site nearby.

In February 2021, the site was taken over by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which administered thousands of covid jabs from a building in the car park until it moved in September last year to larger premises on Knaresborough’s Chain Lane.

In January this year, Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission to convert the site into a gym.

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Now, documents submitted to the council have confirmed that national fitness chain, Pure Gym, will move into the site.

Pure Gym has lodged an application to the council to operate opening hours from 6am until 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

The company does not plan to increase the size inside the former Lidl unit and will instead use the existing space for the gym.

The council will make a decision on the opening hours at a later date.

The new gym would become Pure Gym’s second in the Harrogate district. The company operates a 24-hour facility on Harrogate’s Tower Street.

Harrogate district covid rate remains high as vaccine centre moves

The Harrogate district’s covid rate continues to climb after another 325 infections were reported today.

Latest figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average stands at 1,543 per 100,000 people.

But it remains below both the county average, which stands at 1,680, and the England rate of 1,853.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

According to government figures, 103,687 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

A total of 135,761 have had first jabs and 126,742 have had second jabs.

Latest available hospital figures show a total of 23 patients who tested positive for covid are currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

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North Yorkshire County Council this week stepped up emergency planning to mitigate for what it calls a “significant reduction” in staff across critical care services and the wider care sector amid rising covid rates.

Meanwhile, Harrogate’s main vaccination centre has moved out of the Yorkshire Event Centre and into the goat shed on the opposite side of the showground.

Those due for a booster or anyone who wants to get their first or second dose should enter the Great Yorkshire Showground site by the Sainsburys entrance off Wetherby Road.

Continue past Fodder and the Harrogate Caravan Park. Signs and volunteers lead to the vaccine centre, which is on the right hand side through the gates. Park under shelter of the sheep shed.

Harrogate vaccine centre moves to smaller showground site

Harrogate’s main vaccination centre has moved out of the Yorkshire Event Centre and into the goat shed on the opposite side of the showground.

Those due for a booster or anyone who wants to get their first or second dose should enter the Great Yorkshire Showground site by the Sainsburys entrance off Wetherby Road.

Continue past Fodder and the Harrogate Caravan Park. Signs and volunteers lead to the vaccine centre, which is on the right hand side through the gates. Park under shelter of the sheep shed.

Follow the directions of signs and volunteers.

Appointments are available but people are free to go without one as a walk-in.

The centre will be open on weekends from 8.30am until 5pm and until late on one day only during the week.

Since September the Yorkshire Health Network‘s vaccine centres in Ripon and Harrogate have given out 42,000 booster vaccines.

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There was a national effort to give out as many boosters before Christmas. At its peak, the Harrogate vaccine centre team gave out 1,800 jabs in one day.

According to government figures, more than 80% have had a second dose and 67% have had a third dose in the Harrogate district.

The new vaccine centre is smaller.

With much of the work already done and three other vaccine centres in the district, the Harrogate team is confident it can cope with two vaccinators.

Cath Dixon, the GP clinical lead for Yorkshire Health Network, told the Stray Ferret:

“Over the last couple of days we have been dismantling the equipment we had up at the Yorkshire Event Centre to set up again here on the other side of the showground.

“This is the first day we are open here. Now the Yorkshire Event Centre can use the hall we were in for events and we will be able to stay here until March.

“The current JCVI advice is to only offer three doses of the vaccine. But who knows? Things change all the time and we will be here to help get the Harrogate district vaccinated.”

Harrogate hospital will be open for vaccinations on Christmas

With the government calling for everyone to “get boosted now”, we’re running this regularly-updated blog to let you know where you can get your jab in the Harrogate district.

Besides the GP-run sites at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground and Ripon Races, numerous pharmacies are also now offering boosters and covid vaccines. Some also have an option for under 18s.

If you work at one of these sites, or have recently visited for your own vaccination, please let us know about any update,s such as queues and supply issues.

Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Where to get your vaccine:

Harrogate 

Knaresborough

Pateley Bridge 

Ripon

Friday, December 24

9am – Get a jab at Harrogate showground this morning only

The vaccine centre in Harrogate will be open until 12.30pm today. It’s the last chance to get a jab until the New Year.

Walk-ins are available. First, second, third primary and boosters available for all ages over 12.

Ripon Racecourse is closed as a vaccine centre until the New Year.

8.30am – Harrogate hospital open for jabs on Christmas

Harrogate District Hospital is open for booked appointments only over the Christmas period, including Christmas Day, as other centres close temporarily.

There are no walk-ins available at the hospital.

Thursday, December 23

4pm – Last chance for jabs before Christmas

Knaresborough Chain Lane Hub is open for walk-ins until 8pm today. It will then reopen on December 28 at 8am.

Harrogate Showground has now closed for walk-ins today, some appointments remain until 5pm. It will reopen tomorrow for the morning until 12.30pm. It won’t reopen until January 4.

Ripon Racecourse also closes today at 5pm and won’t reopen until January 4.

10am – Walks ins available today ahead of Christmas

There are still walk-ins available today across the Harrogate district ahead of the Christmas break when vaccine centres will close.

The Yorkshire Event Centre site is experiencing a “very quiet morning” so those running it will be able to welcome walk-ins, including those under 18.

The site at Ripon Racecourse is open today for both booked appointments and walk-in patients for those over 12. It will be open until 5pm.

Knaresborough’s vaccine centre at the Chain Lane Community Centre is also open for walk-in patients until 8pm today.

Wednesday, December 22

9am – Christmas opening hours in Harrogate

The vaccine centre in Harrogate, which reported no queues all day yesterday, has revealed its Christmas opening hours.

The schedule for today and tomorrow is:

Booked appointments 08:30 – 16:55
Walk-in 18 and over 09:00 – 16:00
Walk-in 12-17 year olds 09:00 – 16:00

Christmas Eve is open to all patients 08:30 – 12:30.

Then the vaccine centre will be closed until 2022 with clinics starting up again for appointments on January 4.

8.45am – Ripon Racecourse open for vaccinations

Ripon Racecourse is open today for both booked appointments and walk-in patients. All age groups 12 years and above. It is the same tomoroww until 5pm.

Tuesday, December 21

2.20pm – Great Yorkshire Showground reporting quiet queues

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination site are reporting quiet queues for walk-in and pre-booked appointments.

The site is also accepting under-18s for walk-in vaccines all afternoon.

1.15pm – Harrogate District Hospital vaccination site to be open on evenings

Hospital bosses have confirmed that Harrogate District Hospital’s vaccination site will be open on an evening for pre-booked appointments.

Those wishing to have a vaccine at the site have to book through the NHS national booking service. No walk-in appointments are available.

The vaccination centre, which offers up to 24 appointments an hour, will be open daily Monday to Friday 4pm – 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am – 2pm and selected bank holidays 8am – 2pm.

However, the site will be closed from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day and on New Years Eve and New Years Day. It will also be closed on January 3.

A spokesperson for the hospital said:

“We are very proud of our colleagues who are supporting this as part of the huge national drive to ensure everyone can be boosted to protect themselves and others.”

8.15am – Ripon Racecourse open all day for appointments and walk-ins

Ripon Racecourse vaccine centre is open until 4pm today for booked appointments and walk-in patients.

All age groups over 12 are welcome.

8.10am – 1,700 vaccinations delivered at Harrogate Showground yesterday

Yesterday was a busy day at the Showground, with walk-ins and people with booked appointments getting their vaccines alongside under 18s.
The centre said it did just short of 1,700 vaccinations and the longest walk-in wait time was 45 mins.
Today’s schedule:
The centre has asked everyone to come prepared with their NHS number to hand, you can find it here, and anyone with an appointment to have their booking reference number.

8am – More clinics for 12-15s in Knaresborough

The vaccine centre at Chain Lane Community Hub has added more vaccine clinics for 12-15 year olds.
The clinics will offer first and second doses and be open tomorrow and Thursday and then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week plus all Sundays in January (apart from the January 2).
The centre has asked for people to try and book via the national booking system.

Monday, December 20

11am – Knaresborough vaccine centre aims to give out 1,500 jabs today

Homecare Pharmacy Services, which runs the vaccination centre at Chain Lane Community Hub, is planning to give out 1,500 jabs today.

Walk in sessions will be available from tomorrow 8am to 8pm and then again at the same time on Wednesday.

The vaccine team has asked for people to be patient if they have to queue and to bring their NHS number to speed up the process.

9am – Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground offering walk-ins for children today

The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate is accepting walk-in patients and booked patients for booster jabs this week.

Children aged 12 to 17 will also be able to turn-up for walk-in vaccines at the showground from 1.30pm to 4.30pm today and from 9am to 12.30pm tomorrow.

Ripon racecourse, which was not open yesterday. re-opens today.

Saturday, December 18

2.15pm – Queues expected to remain quiet at Harrogate’s Yorkshire Showground

Vaccine staff at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground are expecting queues for walk-in booster jabs to remain quiet for the remainder of the day.

The site is still accepting walk-ins. Those looking to turn up at the showground without an appointment for a vaccine have until 4pm to do so.

12.30pm – Pateley Bridge vaccination centre reaches milestone

Pharmacist Samina Khan receives recognition from the Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Mike Holt.

Pharmacist Samina Khan receives recognition from the Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Mike Holt.

Today, Pateley Bridge’s vaccination clinic is expecting to have seen its 10,000th patient.

The centre, which is run by Pateley Bridge pharmacy, was recognised by the mayor of the town for the efforts of vaccination staff, admin staff and volunteers.

10.15am – No queues at Yorkshire Showground

There are no queues for walk-ins at the Great Yorkshire Showground, according to staff at the site.

Those wishing to get a booster vaccine today are urged to attend the site before 4pm.

8.30am – Harrogate vaccine sites prepare for another day of boosters

Booster vaccine walk-ins are available at the Yorkshire Showground and at other sites, as listed above.

The showground site is fully booked for appointments and has advised people to have booking references ready. The site will be offering Moderna today.

For those deciding to walk-in, people should have their NHS number with them. Capacity for walk-ins has increased, so officials expect a “first thing” rush before queue times decrease.

Those planning for a walk-in booster vaccine are urged to get to the site before 4pm.

Friday, December 17

1.50pm No queues at showground for walk-ins

The lunchtime rush is over at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, according to staff on site, and any walk-ins this afternoon can expect to be seen quickly.

12.50pm Harrogate Hospital on NHS booking site for boosters

Harrogate District Hospital has appeared on the NHS booking site this afternoon for booster appointments.

It looks as if appointments are available from Wednesday, December 22.

12pm Knaresborough centre opens up for walk-ins

The vaccine site at Chain Lane Community Hub has said it has additional capacity today and will open as a walk-in.

It is open until 6pm.

9.15am Ripon vaccine site open for walk-ins

Ripon Racecourse has reopened as a vaccine centre and will operate a walk-in service alongside its appointments today and tomorrow.

People can head there for a booster throughout the next two days. Staff ask people have their NHS number to hand.

9am Harrogate Showground expecting another day with minimal queues

Staff at the Showground vaccine centre has said following a rush this morning the centre has quietened down.

It is expecting another day with minimal queues and encourages as many people as possible to get their booster before Christmas.

7.30am Knaresborough vaccine centre to offer walk-ins next week

The Chain Lane Community Hub vaccine site will begin offering walk-ins at certain times next week.

Run by Homecare Pharmacy, the centre will offer walk-ins on:

People may need to queue.

Read more:

District pharmacies offering vaccines and boosters

Appointments are available on the NHS app for Thursday December 16 and Friday December 17 8am-6pm, Saturday December 18 8am-3pm, December 20 to 23 8am-8pm, December 28 to 30 8am-8pm and December 31 8am-3pm.

*Some of these dates have been extended today so new appointments are now online to book.

Appointments are available on the NHS app for Saturday December 18 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm, Tuesday December 21st 8am-1pm and Thursday December 30 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm.

Appointments are available on the NHS app for Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 5.45pm

Appointments are available on the NHS app Monday to Sunday 9am-1pm, 2pm-4pm and 5pm-6.30pm

Currently full until New Year but has staff said if people don’t show up for their appointment they can offer it to someone else. They advised people to ring on the day to see what’s available.

Currently full until New Year

No information available at the time

No information available at the time

Waiting on vaccine supply, keep an eye on our covid coverage for more information.

Waiting for official approval then clinic appointments will be made available online. Keep an eye on our covid coverage for more information.

Harrogate’s grab-a-jab centre eager for more people to come down

The one-day Harrogate grab-a-jab centre opened to a steady stream of local residents this morning but doctors say they have the capacity to do more.

Around 100 covid vaccines were delivered this morning at the centre but with a capacity to give 500 doctors have called on residents to come get the covid vaccine.

Based at the Wesley Centre, the appointment-free service will be available until 4pm today.

It is offering first and second doses of Pfizer. To be eligible for a second dose, it needs to have been at least eight weeks since your first jab.

It was a slow start this morning but picked up again round lunchtime. The volunteers told the Stray Ferret their main target is 18 to 30-year-olds who may have been putting it off.

Convenience seemed to be the main reason many chose to come to the Wesley Centre today. Talking to the Stray Ferret, a number of people said it was easier than waiting for somewhere further away.

Also, with the so-called ‘Freedom Day’ arriving on Monday others said they wanted to get it done before then.

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Dr Waheed was pregnant when her colleagues were first offered the jab so wanted to get her’s as soon as she could:

“It was convenience for me and they were really good in there, it was really easy. With kids I’m super busy and I didn’t want to have to drive miles away and this was just super convenient. Now I can just go home and knowing the first one is done.”

Sam Polinsey, 20, said he came to grab-a-jab today because it was so easy:

“I just want to be able to go out and do things again, I’m the last one in my friendship group. It was really quick and easy. gave them my date of birth and then got it done.”

Woman gets first covid vaccine at Ripon racecourse

A 73-year-old woman became the first person to be inoculated at Ripon’s new vaccination centre yesterday.

Snow delayed the opening until 1.30pm when a steady stream of people began to arrive.

The first was Maureen Lambden, from Ripon, who described the experience as “fantastic”. She said she was “very, very grateful” to receive the vaccine.

The centre is being staffed by doctors and nurses from local GP surgeries.

Volunteer marshals, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the racecourse’s own team are also on site helping.

Ripon’s testing centre has the capacity to vaccinate between 500 and 600 people at the racecourse daily.

It is thought the centre will open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but a press briefing today of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, the organisation that represents agencies leading the county’s response to covid, heard opening times will depend on vaccine supply.

Dr Richard Fletcher, from Dr Ingram and Partners in Ripon and clinical director of Ripon and Masham Primary Care Network, said:

“We’re grateful to Ripon racecourse for stepping forward to offer their site for this, as it solves many of the problems presented by other locations.

“It is another significant step in increasing coverage in the region.”

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Parts of Harrogate district miss out on vaccine centre pledge

Those north of Ripon and living in large parts of Nidderdale are missing out on the government’s vaccine centre pledge.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised that everyone will be within 10 miles of a vaccine centre, but there is still work to do in North Yorkshire.

A map released as part of the UK Covid-19 vaccines delivery plan shows that, while there are two centres in Harrogate, there are no places to get a jab in Ripon or Nidderdale.

Residents in Masham currently have to travel to Leyburn or Northallerton if the NHS calls upon them to be vaccinated.

With the elderly and vulnerable first in line for a vaccine, the government believes that it is important they do not have to travel far.

96% of England’s population currently has a vaccine centre within 10 miles but the government hopes to increase that to 100% by the end of January.

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Its vaccine delivery plan outlines how 206 hospital hubs, 1,200 local vaccination sites and 50 large vaccination centres should be able to make that a reality.

The plan also reveals how in “highly rural areas,” where public transport is an issue, the local vaccination centre will be a mobile unit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a government press conference yesterday:

“The third part of the plan is expanding where you can get vaccinated. As of Friday, 96% of the population in England lived within 10 miles of a vaccination site and we’re expanding the number of vaccination sites further, right across the whole of the UK.

“This expansion will include community pharmacy and roving vaccination centre on top of the hospitals and GP practices and the seven mass vaccination sites that we’ve opened.

“This huge expansion means that by the end of January, everyone will live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre either fixed or roving.”

Have you or a relative struggled to get to the vaccination centre? We’d like to hear from you. Get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk