The Bishop of Bangor, Andy John, has welcomed the news that from Tuesday 6 July, St Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor will be a home to the NHS Covid-19 vaccination team.

 

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board confirmed in June the Mass Vaccination Centre at Ysbyty Enfys Bangor will close on 5th July, and begin vaccinating at Bangor Cathedral instead.

The facility at Bangor University’s sports and leisure facility ‘Canolfan Brailsford’ was converted into a temporary hospital in April 2020, to provide beds for patients with COVID-19 symptoms.

Ysbyty Enfys Bangor was designed to be a ‘step down’ site, for patients on their way to recovery from Covid-19, who would not need ventilation or breathing apparatus, but still need some nursing care. The hospital was never used to treat patients and more recently became the regional mass vaccination centre.

The decommissioning of Ysbyty Enfys Bangor will be completed by September, at which time the facility should be handed back to the University.

Ffion Johnstone, BCUHB Area Director (West), said: “Over the coming weeks a number of changes will be made to vaccination venues.

“The changes will be reflected on our online booking service in due course and will not affect the speed of our vaccine rollout.

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the range of partners who have demonstrated such great flexibility and generosity to enable us to protect so many people, so quickly.”

Welcoming the community to Bangor Cathedral, the Bishop said: “We need to get ourselves vaccinated. And everybody, from across our community, will be welcomed through our doors over the coming months. St Deiniol’s Cathedral is here for us all.

“St Deiniol’s Cathedral been at the heart of Bangor for almost 1,500 years, and has been a place of prayer, beauty, holiness and hospitality, and this hospitality is now being extended to all, from across our community, who will come to the Cathedral to be vaccinated.”

More information on the vaccination programme can be found on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s website: https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination-online-booking/