Transport options outlined for priority patients who need to get to Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club for Covid jab

The Leighton Buzzard Primary Care Network (PCN) revealed this weekend that the rugby club site on Stanbridge Road had been chosen as the site for the vaccination programme, with over 80s and those in nursing homes identified as the first recipients of the jab from this coming week. (More here)

For those needing transport services to and from the Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club the PCN has outlined the following possibilities.

> Bus service: Arriva Bus 32 – Leighton Buzzard town centre to Stanbridge. Additional services have been put on for the purpose of the vaccine and the service will now be hourly. The bus will pull into the site to drop off and collect.

> Taxi services: Leighton Taxis 01525 636363; D&R Taxis 01525 377777; Neo J Taxi 01525 22299 / 07921680419; AA Taxis 01525 450000; Sterling Cabs 01525 450199 and Dialacar taxis 01525 850605.

> Buzzer Buses are a charity that exists to help people who cannot use regular public transport services through age, disability and other issues or where there is no suitable public transport service available. They are happy provide a ‘patient booked’ service to and from the Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club for the purpose of the COVID vaccination. There is a small cost of £2.50 each way/£5 return to use the service, depending on the starting destination and for this purpose only they have agreed to waive their usual £10 annual subscription fee. Contact 01525 853566 or email [email protected].

> Masons Coaches have offered to assist patients who do not have access to lifts from friends and family, travel to and from the vaccination site. For more information call 01296 661604, or visit www.masonscoachhire.co.uk.

> Leighton Buzzard Voluntary Patient Transport (LBVPT) provides transport to local hospitals for the elderly and vulnerable who can't get to them without assistance and who don't qualify for NHS help. Travel to the Covid vaccination centre may be difficult for some elderly or vulnerable adults in our community, especially those who cannot afford a taxi, who find public transport difficult to use or who unable to get lifts. LBVPT is a charitable organisation that usually asks for a donation to use the service but for this purpose they have waived this fee. To use the service please ring their call handler on 07873 497633 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.