Hospital staff get vaccinated

The Sherwood Forest Hosptial NHS Trust has actively encouraged all staff to be vaccinated as people working in a healthcare environment are more likely to be exposed to the flu virus.

Trust chief executive Paul O’Connor said: “Vaccinating staff also forms an important part of the Trust’s preparations for winter, helping to ensure staffing levels remain high at a time when pressures on hospital services and emergency care are known to increase.”

In just the first two weeks of this year’s staff flu vaccination campaign, more than 1,650 doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community hospitals have had the vaccination.

Chairman Sean Lyons added: “Flu is a highly contagious infection that anyone can catch and for some people, especially the elderly, vulnerable patients in hospital and for those in ‘at risk’ groups, it can be very serious. A comprehensive flu vaccination campaign is essential for the Trust in order to eliminate the risk of flu spreading.” The Trust will continue to hold flu vaccine sessions for staff until the end of January 2014.