Around 8,000 people would have received a vaccination in Dorchester by the end of the week.

This comes after the news that vaccination figures hit a daily record of 600,000 people receiving their first doses in the UK on Saturday.

The Atrium Health Centre in Dorchester has been a central vaccination clinic for Mid Dorset Primary Care Network (PCN) since last month and has given thousands of vaccines to residents.

Mid Dorset PCN is a grouping of nine GP practices in Dorchester and the surrounding area. These are The Atrium Health Centre, Queens Ave Surgery, Fordington Surgery, Prince of Wales Surgery, Poundbury Doctors Surgery, Portesham Surgery, Cerne Abbas Surgery, Puddletown Surgery and Milton Abbas Surgery.

There are approximately 48,000 patients registered with practices in the PCN.

Covid-vaccinations started on January 16 and the centre has vaccinated around 5,000 patients, including those who are housebound and living in residential and nursing homes. It is hoped that close to 8,000 patients would have received a vaccination by the end of February 7, the majority of whom are attending The Atrium Health Centre.

More than 150 staff have worked at the clinic, which shows the dedication of the teams to work hours over and above their normal working week.

Around 400 local people have volunteered to assist patients in the car park and outside of the building.

One of those is Dorset councillor Les Fry, who was one of the first to get involved and has been instrumental in organising volunteers.

He said: "We are aiming to have 22 leaders, of which I am one of those. We have recruited people with leadership abilities, managing and problem-solving skills to lead each team of 10 volunteers.

"A shift is two hours long and, subject to the availability of vaccines, we're operating from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Each shift has 10 volunteers deployed in various positions.

"There are some gaps and that's just simply down to the shortage of vaccine or the supply, which can be a little irregular.

"I have found it very pleasant, very rewarding and everybody is grateful. It's nice working with a whole group who have a can-do attitude and all the patients are very pleased, they comment on how smoothly it is going.

"It has been fun, it's been enjoyable, the weather hasn't always played its part.

"The NHS staff have been really, really good."

Paul Stredwick is another volunteer who said the community's response to help at vaccination clinics has been great.

"All of them are very keen to do something to help get us out of this pandemic that we're in," he said.

"The patients, particularly on the way in, are so grateful that we're here and doing this for them. They are so pleased to be able to have the opportunity to get the jab and they come out and they're happy to have the protection. It's been very good-spirited.

"There are people here volunteering who are frustrated they can't do more.

"We're all in it together and the sooner we get out of it the better."

Staff at all of the surgeries are working extremely hard to book patients to attend the vaccination clinics as well as maintain business as usual for others.

PCN business manager Gillian Brindle said: "I am really proud of everyone who has stepped up to support this important mass vaccination initiative. Everyone wants to make it happen and people are going above and beyond to play their part. Patients are really grateful to have their vaccination and have been very positive about the organisation of the clinics."

We managed to catch Mr and Mrs Wood just before they went in for their vaccination in Dorchester.

They said: "We're pleased to get it. We're happy that this is happening.

"It's important to think of everybody else and make sure you do what you can to stop anybody else getting it.

"For what we can see it seems efficient."

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