Chief Nursing Officer to lead NHS staff flu jab drive

Ruth May, the Chief Nursing Officer for England is leading a drive urging NHS staff to get vaccinated against seasonal flu.

Hospitals and other healthcare settings have been putting special activities designed to highlight the importance of the flu vaccine, and celebrate those staff who choose to take it.

A record 70% of doctors, nurses, midwives and other NHS staff who have direct contact with patients took up the vaccine through their employer last year, with most local NHS employers achieving 75% or higher.

Ruth has been joined in writing an open letter to NHS staff by other heads of professions like the NHS National Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Suzanne Rastrick, Chief Midwifery Officer, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Dr Keith Ridge.

In it they urge every member of the NHS’ growing frontline workforce to work together to achieve even higher level of coverage this year.

Ruth said: “Each and every one of us who works or has worked on the front line – whether in hospitals, GP surgeries, ambulance trusts or in the community – knows that every winter flu has a serious impact on the health of thousands of people.

“Getting your free, quick jab is the single most effective way of preventing flu, so my message to my colleagues is simple: let’s do our duty, and take this easy but important step to protect our patients, and ourselves, this winter.”