Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 30 September

September 30, 2022

This week we began our staff vaccination efforts to protect colleagues from COVID-19 and flu. This is probably the single most important thing we can do collectively to prepare for what we expect to be a very challenging winter period.

COVID-19 is still with us and it is still incredibly disruptive on healthcare services. We do have an outbreak at present within an inpatient area. It impacts on patient flow, bed numbers and our abilities to discharge patients to their home or another facility.

Flu is also predicted to be particularly severe this season and be under no illusion, it will come early this year, if the experience of the winter in Australasia is anything to go by.

My simple message to you all is this:

You must get both your COVID-19 and flu vaccination. And please get vaccinated early. The vaccines will protect you, they will protect your loved ones and they will protect your colleagues and patients. I believe that it is the professional responsibility of everyone who works for our Trust, clinicians and non-clinicians alike.

It is perhaps the best example of living our new values – Ambition – Respect – Compassion. Being vaccinated demonstrates your respect for others and your compassion. And, this Trust has in the past been amongst the best in terms of ‘flu vaccination rates, so let’s set our ambitions high and see if we can continue to set that standard.

Please make it a priority to pop-in to a clinic or book an appointment. Having just been jabbed myself I can confirm that you will be treated kindly, swiftly and the team will ensure, even if you are anxious, that you are put at your ease.  You also get two stickers – one for each jab!  What’s not to like?

Thank you for taking this important step.

Richard