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FEBRUARY 2018
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All staff are still able to receive their vaccine from any senior sister or charge nurse on any inpatient ward and across outpatients. Flu vaccinations can also be received at the Occupational Health Hub, Third Floor, Heritage Building, Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm.
Jonathan Broom gives the flu jab to Emma De-Havilland
Staff’s vital role in fighting flu UHB has reached its external target of vaccinating 70 per cent of frontline staff against flu – but is continuing the flu fight in its campaign to reach 75 per cent. As with other trusts across the country, UHB has been externally set the target of vaccinating at least 70 per cent of frontline staff against flu this winter. And at a time when more influenza is circulating in the community and in hospitals than in any of the past three years, it remains vital that more frontline clinical staff are getting protected against the unpredictable virus. The 2017/18 campaign launched in the autumn last year, with an incredible 2,800 staff vaccinated in the first two weeks of October and it is hoped UHB will reach 75 per cent by the first week of February. Teams including infection prevention and control and sisters and charge nurses across all divisions – led by occupational health – have worked tirelessly to ensure the vaccination is as accessible as possible for those staff doing the right thing to protect themselves, their families and importantly, vulnerable patients. Michele Owen, Interim Chief Nurse at UHB,
congratulated all those that have taken the decision to better protect themselves and patients, and importantly, the fantastic efforts of occupational health and peer vaccinators leading the flu fight across the Trust.
As healthcare professionals we all play a vital role in preventing the spread of flu. Michele Owen Interim Chief Nurse She said: “I’m very proud that as an organisation we’ve reached this target and there’s no doubt this is a great achievement down to the hard work of our occupational health teams and peer vaccinators who have been helping us all to keep our patients safer from flu.
“As healthcare professionals we all play a vital role in preventing the spread of flu. By being vaccinated yourself, and by endorsing the vaccination for high risk groups in our patient population, you can help raise the awareness and the importance of flu vaccination. “We all have a responsibility to protect our patients, and this is a shining example of how staff from across the Trust continue to play starring roles in delivering the best in care. But there is more to do.” Many misconceptions about the vaccination remain, particularly around the clinical effectiveness of the vaccination. Whilst it has been seen to be less effective in older adults, we can help to protect this vulnerable patient group and reduce the risk of passing on the virus – even if you’re symptom free – by having the vaccine. Ms Owen added: “People think of flu as a mild winter illness, but as we are seeing an increase in the numbers of those admitted with flu, the reality can be devastating. That is why we are going to continue our campaign to see more of our staff become ‘flu fighters’.”
The new Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre (MD-TEC), based in the Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM) on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) site, had its grand opening on January 17. The event featured a tour of the facilities and speeches by Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor and the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB). MD-TEC has been supported through the European Regional Development Fund and will act as a central space to accelerate the development of medical innovations for small and medium-sized businesses. For the full story see page 12.
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