Sherwood Forest Hospitals has once again joined the largest ever NHS staff vaccination campaign with a programme of local activity to protect its staff and patients from flu.

The Trust aims to make great strides in reducing the spread of flu this season by vaccinating as many frontline staff as possible. Last season it successfully vaccinated over 70 per cent of hospital staff against flu, making it one of the best performing Trusts in the country.

Last year flu led to more than a hundred deaths in the UK, claiming 107 lives and affecting thousands more. Annual flu-related admissions into intensive care or high dependency units across the country also increased.

Rebecca Garner, Senior Nurse in the Occupational Health Department, said: “Sherwood Forest Hospitals takes patient safety very seriously and we will be working hard to encourage nurses, doctors and other frontline staff to get vaccinated; helping to prevent them from catching flu or passing the virus on to patients. The vaccinations will be provided free of charge at a range of times and locations to suit all frontline staff, including night workers and those out in the community.”

The Trust’s consistent successful efforts to vaccinate as many staff as possible each year has been recognised by Public Health East Midlands who have recommended other Trusts round the country follow this best practice.

Rebecca added: “Last season’s excellent uptake was testament to staff across King’s Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community hospitals who are committed to protecting themselves, their patients and their families against this highly contagious infection.”

Over 40 nurses from all areas of the Trust have volunteered their time to be trained in administering the vaccine, which will lead to a strong taskforce proactively vaccinating colleagues within clinical areas and in numerous ‘grab a jab’ clinics over the three hospital sites.

The Trust is also urging local people to speak to their GP or other health professional about getting the vaccination. Some people can get this free of charge, including:

Pregnant women

Anyone with a long term condition including diabetes, asthma, kidney disease or heart or chest problems

People undergoing medical treatment who may have a compromised immune system

People who live in long-stay nursing or residential homes

Carers who receive carers allowance

People with a neurological condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy

Pre-school children

Everyone over the age of 6