Sara is a volunteer in Lewisham.
I wanted to do something, anything to help. 10 months of feeling truly helpless, I wanted to give something back.
It’s been a sobering and humbling experience but it has been so rewarding and fulfilling, I’ve loved every second of it. I have met some incredible people, the PCNs, clinical leads, nurses, vaccinators, and volunteers are all incredible, and I hope I can call some of them friends now. It was so energising for an extrovert like me who lives alone to be able to meet new people and talk to them.
I was happily surprised that so many people wanted to be vaccinated and after all of the press around AstraZeneca, people still showed up to be vaccinated. I have been blown away by the PCNs who have stepped up and trained to be vaccinators, some very young and yet so calm and professional it blows my socks off.
I won’t forget working with a local GP who recognises his patients and knows them by name. I will remember the people, how grateful and kind the large majority of them were. Thanking us for our time, not realising what it means to us to be able to help.
Long live the NHS and the generous spirit of the British people.