More than 4,900 UHNM staff get flu jab as Trust prepares for winter
More than 4,900 staff at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) have received their flu vaccination during the first four weeks of this year's campaign.
Latest figures show a total of 4,971 staff across the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford, have been vaccinated, 5.5 per cent more than at the same point last year.
UHNM is currently ranked fifth among NHS trusts in the West Midlands for staff flu vaccination uptake. In the latest week alone 610 vaccinations were recorded, compared with 400 during the same week last year.
Flu vaccination helps protect staff from serious illness and reduces the risk of passing the virus to vulnerable patients and colleagues, helping to keep services running during the busy winter months.
The figures come as the Trust continues its preparations for winter and encourages eligible staff and patients to take up the offer of vaccination.
Ann-Marie Riley, chief nurse at UHNM, said: “It is fantastic to see so many of our staff coming forward for their flu vaccination and I would like to thank everyone who has already had theirs, as well as the teams working hard to deliver our vaccination programme.
“Winter is always a busy period for the NHS and vaccination is an important way to protect ourselves and the people around us. Our staff care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, so I would encourage eligible colleagues who have not yet been vaccinated to take up the offer.
“Being ahead of where we were a t the same point last year, and currently fifth in the region, is really encouraging. We want to keep that momentum going as we head further into winter.”
According to UKHSA estimates, flu vaccinations prevented around 100,000 hospital admissions and 7,000 deaths in England over the past year.
UHNM's vaccination programme is also offering flu vaccinations to eligible patients, with 222 patient vaccinations delivered so far, including to renal patients, long-term inpatients and eligible outpatients.
Free NHS flu vaccination is available to eligible members of the public, including people aged 65 and over, those with certain long-term health conditions, pregnant people and eligible children. Eligible adults can book through their GP surgery, a participating pharmacy, the NHS App or the NHS website; children are usually vaccinated through their GP surgery or school vaccination service.