The Trust, which operates Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital and Montagu Hospital, is on a mission to vaccinate every member of staff between now and November. No stranger to tackling the winter illness, DBTH has been amongst the first acute NHS providers to vaccinate 75 per cent of front-line staff against the illness for four-years running.
Since beginning on Monday 21 September, the organisation’s team of vaccinators have worked tirelessly in order to give medics and clinicians easy access to the vaccine. The health provider is placing significant emphasis on this year’s campaign as there is a potential for influenza, norovirus and Covid-19 to be circulating as the weather turns colder.
David Purdue, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, said: “Each year, our team shows real commitment to getting their flu jab, going above and beyond our already high expectations. As a Trust, ensuring colleagues have access to flu vaccination is incredibly important and I’m very pleased to see such enthusiasm once again this year and thank our team of vaccinators.
“Ensuring colleagues protect themselves against flu is extremely important, however it is even more so this year. Team DBTH have been working hard since March to fight against Covid-19, and as winter arrives we will begin to see cases of both flu and norovirus, in addition to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Getting the jab ensures our staff are protecting themselves, their colleagues, and their friends, family and loved ones.”
Throughout October and into the November, the Trust will continue to vaccinate its workforce to further reduce the risk of hospital patients contracting flu this winter. Visitors can also help in the fight against flu and other winter illnesses by not coming to the Trust to see relatives and friends in hospital if they have flu and cold symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches and fatigue – in addition to Covid-19 symptoms. A full list of visiting restrictions can be viewed here: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/coronavirus-need-know/
Flu can cause a range of illnesses from mild to severe, even among healthy people. People aged 65 and over, pregnant women, anyone with diabetes, chest or heart conditions and others in at-risk groups are advised to ask their GP about having the flu vaccine.
Health professionals at the Trust are also urging local people to adhere to Government guidelines on Covid-19, particularly stressing the importance of hands, face and space.
David continues: “This has been a difficult year in many ways, but our communities have been outstanding in their support. Please continue a little while longer – wash your hands regularly, wear an appropriate face covering when necessary, and leave a two metre distance between yourself and others when out and about. Adherence to these three things will make all the difference this winter.”