A RETIRED army medic and OBE has said giving vaccines to care home residents in Worcestershire is 'the most effective thing' he will do in his career.

Dr Jonathan Leach, 60, who lives just outside Fernhill Heath, near Worcester, has spent the day delivering the new coronavirus vaccinations to elderly residents at The Lodge in Bromsgrove. 

He said: "We have 37 staff and residents to vaccinate against Covid-19 here. This is probably the most effective thing I will ever do in my professional career. Data shows vaccinating 20 people saves one life. That is just an amazing ratio, so it is great to be able to this."

Dr Jonathan Leach spent 25 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving in some of the most difficult trouble spots in the world, he now works as a GP at Davenal House Surgery in Bromsgrove.

He was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to general practice after he helped create a network of 600 surgeries to support military veterans.

Despite this impressive feat the celebrated doctor insists that helping with the vaccination effort is the most effective thing he has done in his career.

In Worcester, a collaboration of 11 GP surgeries collectively known as the Worcester PCN, will be working together to administer the vaccine from Monday, January 11.

The vaccine is being delivered to a select number of surgeries in the county to maintain services at other surgeries for patients, though all patients will be able to receive the vaccine at a site that is close to them. 

NHS digital data shows 605 people from Worcester had volunteered to take part in coronavirus vaccine studies.

So far, two vaccines have been approved in the UK – the Pfizer vaccine, which was rolled out in December, as well as the Oxford vaccine.

As with the previous rollout, patients are being asked not contact their GP practice or local hospital directly asking for an appointment.