Britain's National Health Service is facing a severe winter crisis, with alarmingly low uptake of the flu vaccine among its own frontline staff. New figures reveal that in some NHS trusts, fewer than one in ten healthcare workers have been vaccinated, despite warnings of the nation's biggest ever flu outbreak.
Record Low Vaccination Rates Among NHS Staff
Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that fewer than a third (29.7 per cent) of frontline NHS staff in England have heeded their employer's advice to get a flu jab. This dismal take-up threatens to place immense strain on hospitals and put patients at greater risk. Unvaccinated staff are more likely to spread the virus or take sick leave during the NHS's busiest period.
The situation is particularly dire at four NHS trusts: West London Trust, Lewisham and Greenwich Trust, Croydon Health Services Trust, and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. At these organisations, uptake stands at just one in ten staff or even fewer. In contrast, the best-performing trusts, such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (59%) and Harrogate and District (56%), show a six-fold higher rate of vaccination.
A 'Double-Whammy' of Flu and Industrial Action
NHS England has issued urgent pleas for the public to get vaccinated, fearing a 'double-whammy' of rampant flu and a planned five-day walkout by resident doctors. The strike is scheduled to begin at 7am on December 17th, as doctors pursue a significant pay rise. Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, branded the timing of the industrial action as 'cruel and calculated', warning it is intended to cause 'mayhem' during a perilous period for the health service.
Sir Jim revealed the scale of the impending crisis, stating there are currently around 2,000 flu patients in hospital beds. He warned this number could quadruple to 8,000 daily next week, far surpassing the historic high of 5,408 recorded in January this year. He told an NHS England board meeting the situation required a 'national response'.
System-Wide Challenges and Calls for Action
Health leaders have identified several factors behind the low staff vaccination rates. Uptake is often lower in areas with more residents and staff from minority ethnic backgrounds. Some non-acute trusts struggle because their workforce is more dispersed. Rob Checketts, a national strategic advisor at NHS England, suggested some organisations had hidden behind 'vaccine hesitancy' instead of making a concerted effort. He pointed out that trusts which had 'put some welly into it' had seen huge increases in uptake.
The problem extends beyond NHS staff. Vaccination rates among at-risk groups in the general population are also worryingly low, with just 5 per cent of clinically vulnerable under-65s having received their jab. Non-executive director and GP Sir Sam Everington suggested the NHS should encourage ineligible members of the public to pay for the jab, noting it could be obtained for as little as £10 in some areas.
An NHS England spokesperson said: 'Flu has hit early this year, and healthcare professionals have much greater exposure... getting the flu vaccine is vital.' They confirmed that while more vaccines have been delivered to staff than last year and trusts have ramped up efforts, the service must 'go further and faster' during this challenging winter. In response, low-ranking trusts are implementing measures like roaming flu clinics and 24/7 vaccinator access to boost protection for staff and patients alike.
