NHS staff might be required to have a Covid-19 vaccine if they want to work in the health service according to indications coming from government sources, writes VIVIENNE PARRY.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ FT told uptake lowest among Filipino staff
RCN boss says some BAME staff have “particular concerns” about vaccine
The largest hospital trust in England has reported substantially lower covid vaccine uptake among its black African, black Caribbean and Filipino staff so far, citing ‘vaccine hesitancy’.
Other London trust directors have also reported to
HSJ a disparity in the take-up of the vaccine between different ethnic groups.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust’s board heard yesterday that while overall 80 per cent of its staff had been vaccinated, the rate was around a quarter among black-African and black-Caribbean staff, and lower still for Filipino staff. The trust confirmed that of Asian staff groups, Bangladeshi employees were least vaccinated so far.
Hospitals in London have started to accept patient transfers from other areas
ICU demand nationally has still not peaked, but growth is slowing
Hospitals in the Midlands are making a final expansion to their critical care capacity that would reach the limit of what they are able to provide.
In contrast, easing pressures in London means the capital has started to accept patient transfers from other areas.
But as the demand for intensive care appears to have peaked in the capital over the last fortnight, pressures in the Midlands have continued rising.
HSJ understands a recent letter to trusts in the region from NHS England said they should move to their maximum “super surge” capacity, meaning every possible intensive care bed should be opened.
People phoned number up to 200 times
Guy’s says people should wait to be contacted
A leading hospital trust has been giving covid-19 vaccinations ‘on demand’ to people outside the top priority groups but who phoned for appointments without an invite, for several weeks, it has emerged.
Details of a number for the covid booking system at Guy’s Hospital have been widely circulated on social media in the south east London area, leading to many people ringing up and making bookings rather than waiting for an invitation for the vaccination. Vaccinations are intended to be “invite only”, apart from health and care staff, and largely to be given to those in priority groups.