This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Health department warning over vaccine mandate
Ministers have been issued with a stark warning over mandatory coronavirus vaccines for NHS workers in England, with doubts cast over the new law’s ‘rationality’ and ‘proportionality’.
Two coronavirus jabs will become compulsory for frontline NHS staff from 1 April after MPs voted on the legislation. However, the the document, drawn up by Department of Health and Social Care officials and seen by the Guardian, said the evidence base on which MPs voted ‘has changed’, creating a higher chance of objections and judicial review.
The document cites the effectiveness of only two vaccine doses against Omicron, and the lower likelihood of hospitalisations from the milder variant.
More than 70,000 NHS staff – roughly five per cent – could remain unvaccinated by the start of April. NHS trusts in England are preparing to start sending dismissal letters from 3 February to any member of staff who has not had their first dose by then.
A number of organisations, including the Royal College of Nursing, have urged DHSC to delay the legislation.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
