Coronavirus vaccinations begin inside Glasgow’s SSE Hydro arena

It has been without crowds since the start of the pandemic, but Glasgow’s SSE Hydro is welcoming visitors once again.

Vaccination appointments have begun at the arena after the closure of the neighbouring NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital.

Anyone who had a jab booked at the Louisa Jordan facility will receive theirs as scheduled at the new location.

Stations for giving out the vaccine have been set up in the standing section of the venue, usually filled with thousands of fans enjoying shows.

Before the pandemic, rapper Stormzy had been scheduled to play there on Monday night, but his show has joined a long list of postponements.

Our vaccination centre in the @TheSSEHydro is now open, with the first appointments taking place today!

Remember, if you have previously received your appointment for @NHSLouisaJordan, please come along to the Hydro as scheduled. For parking info visit: https://t.co/FeqlwRNtn6 pic.twitter.com/WhzPhU03HK

— NHS Louisa Jordan (@NHSLouisaJordan) April 6, 2021

General parking is available for the facility in the multi-storey car park beside the Hydro. There is no charge and the entrance and exits are barrier and ticket free.

A designated accessible car park for blue badge holders and those with mobility difficulties is Car Park 1, in front of the Hydro/Armadillo.

Patients with mobility difficulties will be offered assistance on entry.

The Louisa Jordan Hospital closed on March 31 after carrying out over 32,000 healthcare appointments, training over 6,900 healthcare staff and students and vaccinating about 175,000 people.

Jill Young, Chief Executive of NHS Louisa Jordan said: “Thanks to the continued efforts of the public, NHS Louisa Jordan was not needed to treat COVID inpatients. However, it has made a huge impact as part of NHS recovery and remobilisation of our health system.

“Without NHS Louisa Jordan, thousands of people would not have had outpatient and diagnostic appointments, important research and training would not have been carried out, and as one of the largest vaccinations centres in the UK we have clearly played a vitally important role to protect our NHS and save lives.

“NHS Louisa Jordan has been a true collaboration from inception to decommission. I want to thank everyone who has supported the establishment and running of NHS Louisa Jordan over the last year and vaccinations going forward.”

Equipment from NHS Louisa Jordan, such as CT scanners, will be repurposed and transferred for use in other NHS facilities, helping to ensure this facility brings further benefits to patients across Scotland.