LUDLOW MP and former health minister Philip Dunne has asked the Health Secretary Matt Hancock about the speed of the roll out of vaccinations in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

He raised the issue in a question about the Government’s management of the virus.

Mr Dunne praised the NHS and all of those involved in getting the vaccine to people in the most vulnerable groups.

“However, there are still some parts of the country where only care homes and NHS frontline staff have been vaccinated, and in the South West Shropshire primary care network, no one in the community over 80 has yet received the vaccine, and none are expected to until late next week.”

He said that there were still parts of the country in which some of the most vulnerable were still waiting for a first jab.

Mr Dunne called upon the Government to make sure that those parts of the country where things were not going so well were prioritised.

Mr Hancock said that at the time 14,000 doses had been given to people living across Shropshire, Telford and the Wrekin but he was not aware of the problems in south Shropshire.

“Across Shropshire, and Telford and the Wrekin, 14,000 doses have been delivered to the over-80s,” said Mr Hancock.

“I will look into the specific question of the primary care network because I was not aware of that fact.

“Clearly, Shropshire is vaccinating the over-80s but I will look into that specific.

“It is true that, right across the country, the catch-up is absolutely vital in areas if they are behind, because it is right that this is done fairly across the country.”

The Health Secretary said that he will report back about the situation in south Shropshire.

Vaccinations started weeks ago for people living in Tenbury when a centre opened in Leominster but Ludlow has lagged behind although a vaccination centre has been promised at the racecourse next month.

Dr Caron Morton, a partner at the Station Drive GP surgery in the town, has said that the doctors Ludlow will make sure that everyone gets a vaccination.

After care home residents, their staff and front line NHS staff have been vaccinated the next group are those over the age of 80 years.

This will be extended with people who are vulnerable because of pre-existing health conditions near the top of the priority list.

Eventually everyone over the age of 18 will be offered a vaccination.