TWO new vaccination sites will open in Greenford to help 'fill the gap' in centres offering jabs in the north of Ealing borough.

Ealing Town Hall and Southall's Dominion Centre have been the two major sites vaccinating residents since the roll-out began, while the borough's mass vaccination site has now opened at CP House on Uxbridge Road as of February 2.

But Ealing North MP, James Murray received a number of concerns from residents over the lack of vaccination centres near them in the Greenford and Northolt areas, which led to weeks of lobbying from the Labour MP, who raised the issue with the NHS and in Parliament.

Speaking in Parliament on January 21, he said: "I thank the local NHS staff in my constituency for their hard work to vaccinate people.

"In the spirit of working together with them, I raised my concerns about the lack of vaccination sites, particularly around Greenford and Northolt in the northern part of my borough and they agreed with my suggestion that we ask Boots to consider opening a community pharmacy site at their Greenford Westway retail park store.

"I raised this plan with Boots, who were positive and helpful and now we need support from NHS England.

"Will the Health Secretary please ask NHS England to look urgently at lending its support for this plan, so that we can move forward without delay?"

After an invite from NHS England's London team to pharmacies in the area to deliver the service, two new hubs have since been confirmed.

Boots at Westway Cross retail park will begin vaccinating residents in the week beginning February 15 and Roxanne's Pharmacy will set up a hub from Greenford Methodist Church from the week starting February 22.

Mr Murray said: "Vaccinations are crucial to helping us get through the COVID crisis.

"I want to make sure local people have vaccination sites as close to where they live as possible and so I would like to thank the NHS, Boots, Roxannes Pharmacy and Greenford Methodist Church for helping to fill the gap in Greenford.

"I urge everyone to please make sure you book a vaccination appointment when your turn comes.

"If you are over 70 or clinically extremely vulnerable, you can book now on the NHS website, calling 119, or getting in touch with your GP.

"As younger people and others become eligible in the coming weeks, please do not delay and book your appointment as soon as possible at an existing site or the two new ones in Greenford."

Ealing's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) chair Dr Mohini Parmar thanked the MP for the 'great help' securing the sites, adding: "We want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for everyone in Ealing to get vaccinated and these two new sites in Greenford will bring vaccinations closer for thousands of people.

"Vaccinations are a safe and effective way to protect the NHS and save lives."