Hundreds of Halton Hospital staff not Covid vaccinated

However, the trust’s vaccination rate is above the national average – a fact the trust says it is proud of.

The Government is to introduce Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of deployment for all frontline health and social care workers in England from April 1.

NHS England figures show that of the 4,633 health care workers at the trust, 4,364 (94.2 per cent) had been given their first dose of the vaccine by the end of October.

Though this is above the average for NHS trusts across England, it means 269 workers are still unvaccinated.

The figures also show 4,226 (91.2 per cent) had received both doses at Warrington and Halton hospitals.

Across England, around 110,000 healthcare workers have not had a vaccine.

The coronavirus vaccination centre at Warrington Hospital

Approximately 92.4 per cent of staff have had at least one dose, and 89 per cent both, though rates vary significantly at NHS trusts across the country.

Michelle Cloney, the trust’s chief people officer said: “We are really pleased that our internal Covid-19 vaccination campaigns and Warrington and Halton hospitals’ vaccination service have achieved staff vaccination rates that are higher than the average for NHS trusts in England.

“Since the start of the vaccination programme, we have been actively encouraging staff to take-up the Covid-19 vaccine and more recently the booster.

“Our daily vaccination clinic continues to see uptake from staff who become eligible for their booster, as well as continuing to provide opportunities for any staff who have not yet come forward for their first or second dose to be vaccinated.

“We would like to thank all hospital colleagues who have come forward to be vaccinated to protect our patients, colleagues and our communities.

“Since the start of the booster programme, we have also vaccinated more than 1,000 frontline health and social care workers from outside the trust.”

The Royal College of GPs strongly urged all health and care professionals to be vaccinated, saying it will help protect them, their colleagues and their patients from contracting Covid-19.

The coronavirus vaccination centre at Warrington Hospital

In announcing the decision to make vaccination a condition of employment, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Vaccines save lives, and patient safety is paramount.

“Many of the people being treated in hospitals or cared for at home are the most vulnerable to Covid-19.

“We have a responsibility to give patients and staff the best possible protection.”

Separate figures from NHS Digital show staff have taken 7.7million sick days since the start of the pandemic because of coronavirus.

At Warrington and Halton hospitals, the equivalent of 110,080 full-time staff days were lost due to sickness between March 2020 and May this year.

Of these, 23,184 (21 per cent) were because of Covid-19.