Been on a run to reflect on probably most important month of my GP career. sharing my learning, from 2500 vaccines in 3.5 days. @CharlotteAugst @MartinRCGP @HelenStokesLam @JamesCSanderson @MattHancock @alf_collins @brianhughesnhs

We had to respond to a huge system error that meant we were delivered 410 vials of PfizerBiotech vaccines instead of the 195 we were expecting. We responded positively as a community team, can-do and collaboratively.

Whilst we vaccinated, Our volunteers made it work. reminisant of olympic ‘games makers’ they helped frightened older people feel safe and valued, with warmth and smiles. It’s of our greatest ‘british’ assets.

But the organisation of volunteers worked because it was local. No national data bases or grandiose aspirations. Local relationships, word of mouth, trust built over decades. Thankyou @HeeleyTrust

Many healthcare staff volunteered as extras too. They wanted to be part of something special. It’s not just what you do , but how you do it that inspires people and moves them to contribute.

We are very grateful to the scientists and science that gave us this opportunity. Just incredible we have the technology to manipulate our immune system like this. We appreciate the painstaking experimentation and thought to get us here.

Digital innovation played an important supporting role. @accuRx accubook system enabled us rapidly respond to our last minute crisis. The vision of local doc @jezmccole to see how this could work was key. And it did work really well. You have to able to depend on IT working.

The bureacracy was ridiculous and didn’t work. We were ready to go on dec 21st, stood down 4 days before, then still had no confirmation of delivery times until day before, and then got twice what we expected. They were coming from storage 6 miles away! Surely it’s not that hard!

The guidance was crippling. 30 page documents of conflicting advice nearly everyday. So much information was overwhelming and dangerous. The human mind can’t process and hold that much so quickly. Especially with such pace of change

We operated with 2 simple mantras. Don’t waste any opportunity to get vaccine to those most in need asap. Do no harm (don’t give people covid, risk falls or exposure, or make people feel undervalued as a person).

To achieve this we needed some core basic information about the vaccines, and then the freedom and trust to operate in our own known context with safety and care, like we do every day.

So I am immensely proud of our team. Our staff filled rotas, responded constantly to changes to the plan and and rapid training requirements. Our steering team worked long stressful hours to ‘land this jumbo on a sixpence’

I think we embodied @vmontori #patientrevolution of careful and kind care. We hit back against covid, but also against hate and division. We stood together as local people that care for each other, and believe in the value of what feels right. @NikkiKF @BarackObama @AmarRughani