Keeping it in the family

Over the last few months, a local family from Flitwick have rallied together to support the NHS vaccination programme in many different ways.

Earlier this year Samantha Golton Scholes, a Personal Assistant who works for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (BLMK CCG), started accompanying her clinical colleagues to vaccinate housebound patients. Samantha felt right at home – and soon realised that she could support the vaccine effort by training as a vaccinator herself.

“I’ve been doing office type work for many years and felt I had more to give. It’s easy to feel that it’s the only type of work you can do, so it was a fantastic opportunity to be able to gain a new skill and become a covid vaccinator. I really enjoy vaccinating people and being able to help people during these difficult times is a real privilege.”

Now Samantha’s family have got in the action too, they’re genuinely proud of what she’s been doing and were keen to play their part. Her dad, David Golton, a semi-retired accountant is volunteering at a vaccination centre in West London and her daughter Bea (13) is now volunteering at the same vaccination centre as Samantha in Central Bedfordshire.

“Bea’s always been very interested in what I do, so when she was looking for somewhere to volunteer as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, she thought that it would be great to volunteer at a local vaccination centre. I was delighted when she decided to do this, as our centre has a fantastic team of volunteers. She loves the different roles that she’s been given which have included meeting and greeting people, booking them in on the system and directing them where to go.

Jane Urwin, volunteer leader at the centre said, “Bea’s one of our youngest volunteers and we are so pleased she chose this centre. She’s a pleasure to work with and has joined our team of volunteers who all do an incredible job. It’s great that she’s keeping it in the family.

Samantha added “I’ve worked in the NHS for 21 years, my mum, Dr Andrea Golton is a retired consultant Radiologist and both my son Richard (16) and partner Mark also did some volunteering stints for the NHS earlier this year. The NHS has always been close to our hearts, I’m so proud that we have three generations of our family supporting the vaccination effort.