The Rainbow Hospital

 

The hospice rang me at home this afternoon with the offer of a first Covid Vaccine.

I jumped at the chance and managed to get the 590 th slot at the newly converted Rainbow ( Enfys in Welsh) Hospital in Llandudno .

From the get-go I was impressed. 

I was ushered to a parking space at Venue Cymru and a huge man in RAF uniform made it clear in no uncertain terms when the queuing “patients” could go in.

The Airforce had taken control of the whole kaboodle and boy did it show.

Within seconds I was ushered through the theatre foyer and was given an information sheet to fill in, seconds later uniformed airmen moved us through to the former conference centre which is the hospital proper where we waited, supported by volunteers, until the vaccinators were ready.

I have not seen inside a Rainbow Hospital before but I was totally blown away by it. 

I could have walked into any district hospital of note rather than what was essentially a field hospital , knocked up by the army in just a few months.

Behind me was a Nigerian Doctor and in front was a community care worker, both caught my eye with the same impressed expression. 

And as we waited the doctor admitted graciously that he felt rather “ humbled and emotional “ by the whole experience and I agreed.

We were seeing the Best of British organisation , military style.

I was shown into a bed space were a clerk completed my paperwork and a nurse gave me the jab and moments later I was led for a sit down before being let out for home

The whole thing from start to finish lasted 30 minutes.

An attractive and cheerful airman bid me goodbye and as I walked to my car, I suddenly felt rather emotional just as the Nigerian doctor admitted to feeling when he and I realised the enormity of the project in front of us