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Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 21 January

January 21, 2022

I want to focus today’s message on the mandatory vaccination legislation, meaning that by 1 April, all health care workers must have had first and second doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.  You must forgive me if you find my message blunt, but the expectations of us are clear and the impact on services of colleague’s not being vaccinated, is grim and worrying.

In brief:

  • These regulations will be enshrined in law. There is no opportunity for Trusts to opt out of or be flexible with the expectations on us. I am obliged, as accountable officer, to enact this policy. Over the past year, since vaccines were approved, this Trust has provided a range of opportunities to learn more about vaccination, get support if you have concerns, and provide access to these life-saving vaccines. As we near the critical date of 3 February (the last date by which you must have your first vaccine) our efforts are intensifying so that you all have the opportunity to make the choice that is right for you, with full understanding of the consequences.
  • More than 80% of our entire workforce is now vaccinated with first and second doses. Thank you to everyone who has taken this step to protect yourselves, your colleagues and your families.
  • Remaining colleagues will have received a letter asking you to confirm your vaccination status with us. We want to make sure that our records are accurate for each member of staff. If you are fully vaccinated and have received a letter please don’t worry – all you have to do is follow the instructions in the letter in order to confirm your status with the Workforce Hub.
  • I know that there are people who have concerns. Please be assured that there are many experts within the Trust who are here to help and support you. You may wish to join some of the vaccine Q&A sessions taking place next week and raise any questions you have.
  • Our Trust Board met today to confirm our approach to the roles that are in scope of the mandatory vaccination policy. The Board agreed that those in scope are staff working in our Trust who have face-to-face contact with patients or service users in their role. This includes staff entering areas that are utilised for the provision of a CQC-regulated activity which may result in incidental face-to-face contact with patients or service users. This is the vast majority of our workforce. It also applies to bank and agency workers, contractors and volunteers. There are a small number of agreed exemptions which include those under 18 years, those with a formal medical exemption (this will be a very small number) and a temporary exemption for pregnant women.
  • Regrettably, those who fall within the scope of this legislation will no longer be able to continue in their roles unless they have been vaccinated. As the scope applies to the vast majority of colleagues there will be very little opportunity for redeployment into alternative roles – those roles simply will not exist within our Trust or within local NHS Trusts, who are all enacting the regulations in the same way.
  • I am fully in support of the approach our Trust Board has agreed. Our new strategy priorities People (our workforce), Patients and our Population. What better way to demonstrate that we care about each of these groups than by ensuring that we can offer maximum protection against a virus that has, over the past two years, dramatically impacted on individuals, families, livelihoods and our way of life.

I hope you will join me in supporting our vaccination approach and ensure you are compliant by 1 April 2022.  I want to thank our Trade Union colleagues for their support and for the help and advice that they will be able to provide to individuals. They have shared a message today for all staff.

The government do not look likely to reverse this legislation.  The Trust does not have the authority not to comply.  The consequences for individual colleagues and their NHS careers if they choose not to be vaccinated, will be serious.  The consequences for the Trust, in terms of services we will NOT be able to support if the worst case scenario unfolds, will be catastrophic.

Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation.

Richard