HEREFORDSHIRE'S GP surgeries are prioritising Covid jabs over other appointments with the aim of making sure as many people are vaccinated as possible.

The UK government has announced a further acceleration to the Covid booster vaccine programme in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and has pledged that every adult in England will be able to book a booster by the end of 2021.

The NHS will have to postpone some planned appointments in order to meet the target of giving every adult in England a Covid-19 booster jab by the end of the year.

Following the recent government announcement and NHS guidance, Pendeen GP Surgery, in Ross-on-Wye, has been asked to suspend all non-urgent care and deploy all staff into the Covid vaccination program.

The surgery has been running a lot of covid clinics at but as of yesterday (December 15) it is putting an additional 3,000 appointments into the next two weeks.

The aim is to vaccinate anyone who wants and is eligible for a vaccination by December 31.

It can take patients from any area, however if you are not registered with Pendeen Surgery you will need your NHS number so you can be added to the system.

Texts and links are being sent to the surgery's patients to book an appointment.

Ledbury Health Partnership is also prioritising vaccinating the county due to government guidance.

The surgery will be organising Covid Booster clinics at the practice.

Those that are due a booster jab will be contacted for an appointment when they are available.

"Please do not telephone us to ask our reception team for any more information, as there is not currently any more information available, and you may prevent patients with medical concerns from getting through," said a spokesperson from the surgery.

Cantilupe surgery, in St Owen Street, Hereford, are currently prioritising the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Some routine services or appointments at your GP practice may temporarily be stood down.

Elgar House, in Holmer Road, Hereford, are currently running as a temporary vaccination centre offering appointments for both vaccines and boosters, with additional walk-in clinics on an ad-hoc basis.

Earl Mortimer College and Sixth Form, in Leominster are also running a temporary vaccination clinic.

It has had 2300 appointments added for this weekend.