'Room for improvement' over flu jabs for Shropshire hospital workers
The uptake in flu vaccinations for frontline healthcare workers at Shropshire’s hospitals has room for improvement, according to non-executive directors on the trust’s board.
More than three quarters of frontline healthcare workers at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital received the flu vaccination this year.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s flu campaign for 2018/19 was taken up by 75.37 per cent of frontline staff.
Chief executive Simon Wright previously said the uptake had increased significantly during his time at the trust.
But Brian Newman, one of the trust’s non-executive directors, told Sath’s trust board at a meeting yesterday that the organisation should be aiming for a rate that was higher than 90 per cent.
He said: “I would like to feel there is a proper plan in place for later in the autumn so we do get well over 90 per cent.”
A report to the trust’s board said 12 per cent of the total sample opted out, with the main reason being that staff were concerned about the possible side effects of the vaccine, followed by those who had a needle phobia.
Chris Weiner, another non-executive director, said: “Thirteen per cent of staff haven’t had the vaccine and haven’t opted out.
“That’s a bit of a wasted opportunity.
“I would like to see how we are going to address that in the future.”
More than 3,500 frontline healthcare workers had the jab, while 564 opted out.
The report said the trust achieved its target of vaccinating 75 per cent of frontline staff.
