PUBLIC Health Minister Jane Ellison MP visited Whiston Hospital to congratulate staff for being one of the leaders in the national drive against the flu.
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was the top one in the country for the number of staff who were vaccinated last winter.
They achieved 83.5 per cent of frontline staff, helping to protect themselves, patients and their families against the flu virus. The national average was just over 50 per cent.
Ahead of the launch of this year's national flu campaign the minister visited the hospital's respiratory department to find out how the Trust consistently achieve and surpass the national target for staff vaccination against influenza.
She said: "Whiston Hospital is a fantastic example of how NHS staff can lead the way with immunisation against flu. Knowing that the vaccine is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus the Trust's occupational health team has been enthusiastic and innovative in encouraging other staff to have their jab.
"I want to see the whole NHS rise to the challenge of getting as many staff to have the jab as possible as part of their duty of care towards patients. With an almost 85 per cent take up rate Whiston and St Helens Hospitals have shown what is possible."
The minister met staff involved in the forefront of the annual flu campaign and learned more about initiatives to encourage staff to protect themselves and their patients and discussed the serious effects of flu for high risk patients such as those with respiratory disease."
Ann Marr chief executive of the Trust said: "It is great news that the Trust is recognised as leading the fight against influenza and that the minister chose to visit us today. Our staff always go that extra mile to make sure they provide the highest standards of patient care and protecting themselves and patients against the effects of the flu virus is taken very seriously by everyone at Whiston and St Helens Hospitals."
ENDS
Pictured L-R
Ann Marr, Chief Executive photographed with Public Health Minister Jane Ellison MP, Nick Phin, Public Health England and Richard Fraser, Chairman
Jane Ellison meets staff from Ward 2C at Whiston Hospital
Public Health Minister Jane Ellison MP (centre) pictured with the team from Whiston and St Helens hospitals
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