Council and Trust work together to provide ‘exemplar’ service

The County Borough Council and Wellbeing @Merthyr (formerly the Leisure Trust) have supported the delivery of almost 30,000 Covid-19 vaccinations over the past four months.

Staff from the local authority and Wellbeing @Merthyr have been working together with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board on the mass vaccination programme in the main hall at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre – while also making sure the rest of the building’s facilities and classes are available for sporting activities.

A total of 28,383 vaccines have been administered at the centre, with 23,150 residents having received their first doses and 5,233 people fully vaccinated, having received both first and second doses.

Across the whole county borough, vaccines given at GP practices and to Health Board employees at Prince Charles Hospital take the total given in Merthyr Tydfil to 57,885.  Of these, 38,610 were first doses and 19,275 first and second.

Wellbeing@Merthyr Chief Executive Jane Sellwood said: “The Council and Trust staff have ensured the vaccination centre runs smoothly, helping to direct people to the right areas.  Leisure staff on site make sure all compliance testing is undertaken and fire evacuation could happen if required, also answering queries and generally supporting the ongoing centre operation and staff managing them.

“They’ve provided a clean, welcoming environment, while also allowing other areas of the centre to open up and operate safely under Government guidelines,” she added.

“We’ve welcomed back gymnastics into the gymnastics hall, welcomed new and old users back into the gym and are developing options around outdoor and indoor classes. While the numbers are limited for classes due to the space available, it’s been lovely to see so many new and old faces restart their fitness journey.

“Wellbeing@Merthyr are proud to be supporting the efforts of the NHS through the use of our facility to hopefully speed a return to normal activities before the tragedy of the pandemic hit.  

“We know that many people are missing classes and activities, but the efforts of NHS and Welsh Government in the vaccination rollout will - we hope - bring about a quicker return to normal and getting everyone back into sport and activity safely.”

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transformation and Commercialisation Cllr Geraint Thomas said: “The Council is proud that the leisure centre has been at the heart of both the mass testing and vaccination programmes in Merthyr Tydfil.

“Both our and the Wellbeing @Merthyr’s staff take their roles very seriously and are again supporting an operation that is an exemplar in how to run an emergency health facility.”