Award for flu-fighters

The L&D Occupational Health team used an innovative approach to encourage staff to have the flu vaccination with a humorous and imaginative communications campaign.

Already 51 per cent of doctors and 78 per cent of support staff at the L&D have had the vaccination so far, compared to last year when the national uptake among healthcare workers was just 34 per cent.

Vaccinating hospital staff is just one part of the NHS plan to prevent a huge outbreak of flu this year.

Occupational health manager at the L&D, Jennie Jones, said: “The hospital depends on a healthy workforce, so staff can protect themselves by having the vaccine, which means they are not going to pass it on to their families or to vulnerable patients. My team have been really busy promoting the vaccine to all wards and departments to make sure the L&D stays as healthy as possible this winter, and we will carry on campaigning to encourage even more staff – especially our nurses and midwives to be protected from flu.”

The hospital is also asking visitors help to keep flu germs out of the hospital. If you or anyone in your household is suffering from an infectious disease like diarrhoea and vomiting or flu, stay away from the hospital until you have fully recovered and remain well for 48 hours. The flu jab is the most effective way to prevent flu, as well as washing your hands with soap and hot water to avoid spreading flu germs.