Most frontline healthcare workers are not protected against flu as cases soar in Yorkshire hospitals.
According to the latest figures, the majority of frontline healthcare workers in Yorkshire were not vaccinated against influenza by the end of November. Across England, 68 per cent of frontline healthcare workers have not been vaccinated – a jump from 62 per cent last year.
It comes as the national number of patients with flu in hospital beds soared 41 per cent in a week and continues to be more than four times the number at this point last year, with an average of 2,629 flu patients in beds at the end of December.
Here are the number of healthcare workers protected against flu in each health Trust in Yorkshire.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
ICU staff at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 23%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 77%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 14
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: None
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 28%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 72%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 26 (3 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 33
Bradford District Care Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 39%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 61%
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Sheffield Children’s Hospital
(Image: Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 33%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 67%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 7 (2 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 2
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 27 (2 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 15
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 38%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 62%
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 40%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 60%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 47 (1 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 43
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Barnsley Hospital’s Emergency Department
(Image: Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 40%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 60%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 17 (1 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 5
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 29%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 71%
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 57%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 43%
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 49%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 51%
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
(Image: Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 24%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 76%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 29
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 18
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 57%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 43%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 10
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 10
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
(Image: Google maps)
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 29%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 71%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: (in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: (in critical care)
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 16
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 13
Humber Teaching Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 41%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 59%
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 67 (4 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 35
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
(Image: Terry Robinson/Geograph)
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 26%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 74%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 90 (5 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 74
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 22%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 78%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 45 (3 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 44
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 33%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 67%
- Number of patients with flu week to December 15: 48 (2 in critical care)
- Number of patients with flu week to December 8: 50
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
- Frontline healthcare workers vaccinated against flu by end of November: 25%
- Percentage unprotected workers: 75%
What the experts say
A person getting a flu jab
(Image: David Cheskin/PA Wire)
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “The NHS has been hit hard with an early festive flu season, putting increased pressure on staff as they prepare for the long winter ahead of us.” He added the NHS has been making it “as easy as possible” for people to get the jab, with vaccination centres in supermarket car parks and football clubs.
He warned: “As children finish school and friends and families congregate over the Christmas period we expect viruses to continue to spread so if you haven’t got your flu jab and are eligible please come forward, and the public should think twice about seeing loved ones if they are seriously unwell.”
Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at think tank The Health Foundation, said the current winter crisis reflects a “lack of resilience” in the NHS after a decade of austerity.
Patricia Marquis, the Royal College of Nursing’s executive director for England, said: “As people prepare for the festivities, nursing staff are battling to hold the service together and are deeply concerned about what the coming weeks will deliver.
“Right across the NHS beds are full, A&E is facing increasing pressures, while the growing number of flu cases threatens to overwhelm an NHS and workforce already in crisis.
“Once again winter is exposing the true impact of failures to invest in our nursing workforce. As we head toward 2025, the Government must show it values the profession through action and not warm words.”
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