Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 25 November

November 25, 2022

Firstly, thank you – this week has been difficult and challenging for many of our services and teams. Whilst we gear up for what we are already seeing as an extremely pressured winter in the NHS, there are two easy things that you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones and your colleagues:

1. Get your flu jab
2. Get your COVID-19 vaccine

It is my very strong belief that all of us have a professional responsibility to do this. We won’t be seeking your compliance with offers of coffee and cake with money we don’t have. Instead, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to fit your vaccinations into your busy work time. The team will come out to you on request and will also be visiting those areas that are particularly under pressure. I sincerely believe that there is no excuse.

Staff absence due to ill health is having a big impact on our ability to safely staff our services.  Our staff absence rate is currently 2.5% higher than normal levels. Lots of people are absent due to coughs, colds and flu and we wish them a speedy recovery. As well as flu being a very nasty illness (and fatal in some cases) it also impacts on those who remain at work having to cover other people’s roles or juggle staffing to keep our services safe.

Getting vaccinated is always the right thing to do. Look out on Monday for a film from our Chief Medical Officer Dr Mark Anderson who will remind us all of the truly terrible experiences in the first year of the pandemic when the vaccines were not yet here. Vaccination has been the game changer in how the pandemic has progressed.  It will continue to be that game changer.

We all come to work to do a good job. Getting these essential vaccinations is one easy way for you to give of your best to those around you.