THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER, 2019

Photograph attached: Lorna Wiggin, Jane Forbes, student nurse Roselyn Boath and Audrey Warden at the staff flu clinic in Ninewells this morning

Staff flu vaccination campaign kicks off in NHS Tayside

Staff at Ninewells Hospital have been lining up to protect themselves and their patients against flu as the staff flu vaccination programme kicks off across NHS Tayside.

200 staff and volunteers, including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, porters and domestics as well as employees from medical physics, radiology, theatres, support services and administration, attended the first staff flu clinic at Ninewells this morning.

Vaccination programme manager Jane Forbes, who delivered today’s clinic, said, “It was great to see such a good turnout for our first clinic at Ninewells. It’s really encouraging that our staff are so keen to get vaccinated. We have lots of clinics organised across NHS Tayside in the next few weeks and we hope to see many more staff coming along to get the jab.”

Chief Officer for Acute Services Lorna Wiggin and Associate Director for Hospital Services, Ninewells Hospital Audrey Warden were among the 200 staff who attended the clinic this morning to be immunised. Lorna said, “I had my flu vaccination today because it’s important for all of us working in the NHS to protect not only ourselves, but our family, friends and most importantly the patients we care for.”

All NHS Tayside staff and volunteers are urged to take up the offer of a free flu vaccination at drop-in clinics in hospitals and community sites, by peer immunisers on the wards and at mobile sessions in frontline areas. NHS staff can also attend participating community pharmacies across Tayside to get their free flu jab.

Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr Daniel Chandler said, “Healthcare workers have a higher risk of flu compared to the general public, with up to one in four likely to become infected during a mild flu season, and more than two thirds of people with flu may not have any symptoms but could still pass it on to others.

“This is why it is so important for us to vaccinate as many members of staff as possible. We need to protect staff, patients and service users, especially those most at risk of serious complications, by reducing the spread of the virus in our hospitals and communities.”

NHS Tayside saw its staff vaccination uptake more than double from 18% in 2016/17 to 37% the following year. In 2018/19, uptake again increased to more than 54%, the highest level ever recorded in Tayside and rising above the national average for the first time.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718