AN urgent plea has been made by Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) for registered health care professionals to join its Covid-19 immunisation team.

Hywel Dda is making its final preparations to deliver a mass vaccination programme across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire on a scale not seen before in the NHS and is urgently looking to recruit into bank or short-term contracts.

Ros Jervis, director of public health at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “The long-term response to the pandemic requires a safe and effective vaccine to be available for all who need it.

“At Hywel Dda UHB we are making the final preparations to make sure that as soon as a safe and effective vaccine is approved for use, we are ready to deliver it to the people in our community most at risk from Covid-19.”

Dr Roger Diggle is one of those who has spoken about his decision to return to help.

He said: ¨I retired as deputy medical director of Hywel Dda University Health Board in 2019 following a career as a GP, then Chief Medical Officer in the Falkland Islands and Medical Director of NHS Shetland.

“Since September 2019 I have been helping out a GP practice four days a month as a locum GP.

“I am intending to help the vaccination programme in any way I can as the success of the programme is critical to controlling the Covid epidemic.

“We need as many immunisers as possible in order to deliver the large number of vaccinations in as short a time period as possible. Come and join the team.”

Apply now at hduhb.nhs.wales/jobs/