Emergency responder returns to West Suffolk Hospital to help with vaccination programme

A former responder for the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) has stepped up to help with the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Dr Andy Mason took his first shift on Thursday as one of the vaccinators at West Suffolk Hospital.

During the shift, Dr Mason helped vaccinate more than 100 people, ranging from doctors, nurses, pharmacy staff and others working at the West Suffolk Hospital, to those working in the local community, including paramedics, social workers and other NHS Staff and volunteers with patient-facing roles.

He said: "I am convinced that this is the way forward to ensure that the country can escape from the grip of this pandemic.

"The vaccination programme will save lives and protect our precious NHS and I am honoured to be able to be part of that."

Dr Mason spent 40 years volunteering for SARS, treating thousands of critically ill or injured patients around Suffolk before retiring his stethoscope in 2014.

Since then, he has continued to be involved in the charity, in an ambassadorial role, giving talks to local groups and providing CPR training for members of the public.

However, with the emergence of the pandemic, he decided that he should try to assist and returned to working as a practising doctor.

It heralds a remarkable journey for Dr Mason who, in one of his first medical roles, was a House Officer at the old West Suffolk Hospital nearly 50 years ago in 1972.