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NHS Board Halts Staff Flu Jabs As Supplies Run Out

Posted on: Thursday, 1 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By Alison Hardie Health Correspondent

ONE of Scotland's biggest health boards has run out of the flu vaccine it bought to protect its own staff this winter, The Scotsman has learned.

NHS Lothian has been forced to cut short its programme to inoculate all its staff before its completion date.

Concerned health workers fear the miscalculation in the number of vaccines bought by NHS Lothian could throw health services in the region into chaos if, as expected, Scotland is blighted by a winter flu epidemic.

The programme of vaccinations was brought to a sudden halt last Wednesday, two days before it was due to end. It is understood that hundreds of key members of the medical and nursing staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Western General Hospital have not been inoculated.

In a message to staff, NHS Lothian warned that there was no guarantee a new supply of the jab could be found.

The Executive issued guidance to NHS boards this year which strongly recommended that all healthcare staff should be given the flu jab free.

The memo stated: "Influenza immunisation is highly effective in preventing influenza in working-age adults. In addition, influenza immunisation of staff may reduce the transmission of influenza to vulnerable patients, some of whom may have impaired immunity and thus reduced protection from any influenza vaccine they have received themselves."

The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health has already highlighted "worrying signs" that Scotland is on course for a flu epidemic this year.

As a result, the flu vaccination programme has been expanded to cover 72.5 per cent of people over 65, as well as at least 60 per cent of other "at risk" patients suffering from heart and chest problems, asthma and weakened immune systems.

But an e-mail sent last Thursday to all NHS Lothian staff and seen by The Scotsman states: "As the supply of vaccine for the division has been exhausted, we therefore wish to inform you that the remaining dates [for receiving the flu jab] have been cancelled. There has been a suggestion that there may be an additional supply, however the detail on this has not been confirmed."

The e-mail, sent to staff by Jane Ramage and marked of "high importance", tells healthcare staff that no-one in the directorate of nursing will be able to answer staff questions about the issue "due to annual leave".

Last night, one concerned member of NHS Lothian staff said: "It strikes all of us working in the area of medicine that the health board is being irresponsible.

"They know how many people work for NHS Lothian, so they should have been able to judge how much vaccine is needed.

"Unless they manage to buy more vaccine - and right now that looks unlikely - then, come the winter, if there is an epidemic there will be a very, very serious shortage of staff in hospitals across Lothian.

"That could lead to ward closures, or force the health board to bring in agency staff at a huge cost."

Despite telling staff they must wait for another e-mail communication to find out how NHS Lothian would resolve the problem, the board issued a vigorous defence of the flu-jab programme last night.

James McCaffery, the director of human resources, claimed the fact that the health board had run out of vaccine before the programme was due to end was a sign of how successful it had been.

Mr McCaffery added: "We strongly encourage staff, especially those in direct contact with patients, to have jags and are pleased that so many have come forward.

"As there is still clear demand, we are in the process of accessing additional supplies from the Scottish Executive contingency stocks and anticipate this will be available soon."

See epages for email to staff at NHS Lothian about flu jabs running out.

Source: Scotsman, The

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