NHS Devon nominated for flu fighter award

The NHS in Devon has been nominated for a prestigious award for its efforts to promote the importance of getting vaccinated against flu to healthcare staff.

Public health bosses at NHS Devon developed an e-card that encourages healthcare staff to get protected against flu.

It has been shortlisted for a national NHS Employers’ flu fighter award and the local NHS will find out if it has been successful on 27 February at an awards ceremony in Leeds.

The e-card was sent to staff by email and the message was spread further on Facebook and Twitter – reaching NHS staff as far as Wales and the North of England.

As a result the number of healthcare staff at Devon’s hospitals and in the community who have been vaccinated against flu is higher than the previous year.

Most NHS hospital trusts in the county have already exceeded their end of year figure for last year.

Dr Virginia Pearson, director of public health for Devon, said:

“It is great news that our frontline NHS staff are getting protected against flu.

“It not only protects them and their families, but also their patients, some of who are vulnerable to catching flu.

“We wanted to do something a bit different this year to encourage our staff to get vaccinated and we thought they would be more likely to pass on this e-card to their colleagues and friends.

“Our e-card has the message ‘spread the word not the flu’ on the front and opens up to reveal the message ‘don’t hesitate – vaccinate and ‘protect yourself, your family and your patients’

“We are also pleased that other NHS trusts across the country have been using the e-card for their own staff.”