Frontline health and social care workers are being offered the Covid vaccine from another hospital hub that hopes to jab 1,000 people a week. 

Loughborough Hospital started vaccinating staff from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland this week. 

The hospital hub, run by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), will initially be offering the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 injection to health and social care staff.

It is the first hub being led by LPT, although trust staff have been working for, and continue to support the vaccination programme through existing hospital hubs at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital.

Angela Hillery, chief executive of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "Our staff have been phenomenal in supporting the coordination and delivery of vaccinations to the health and social care workforce through the hospital hubs and I couldn't thank them enough.

"We are very proud to be working alongside our wider NHS family to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can, and hope to continue to create further local hubs. 

"Thank you to everyone for playing their part in fighting this pandemic, across all our services and teams, you are all amazing."

Latest confirmed data released last week showed that almost 150,000 first doses of a Covid jab had been given across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland at hospital hubs, vaccination centres and GP surgeries. 

Dr Anne Scott, LPT's director of nursing, allied health professionals and quality, said: "We are really pleased to be playing an increasing role in delivering the vital vaccines which will help the country get back to normal.

"Initially we will be concentrating on health and social care staff, who are in the government's priority groups. We expect to vaccinate around 1,000 people each week. 

"We hope to open further hospital hubs at some of our other community hospitals in the coming weeks, as well as plans to open a vaccination centre for the public."

Health bosses issued a plea to the public not to turn up at vaccine centres without an appointment. 

Health care professionals interested in becoming a vaccinator should visit www.leicspart.nhs.uk/supportvaccinations