Dorset County Hospital boss welcomes mandatory jabs for frontline NHS staff
Dorset County Hospital has the highest Covid-19 vaccination rate for hospital staff in the country
A Dorset County Hospital boss is welcoming a government announcement that could cost unvaccinated frontline NHS staff their jobs.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced all frontline workers have until April 2022 to receive two coronavirus vaccine doses, or they could lose their jobs.
Chief Medical Officer Alastair Hutchison told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"It makes sense for all frontline staff to be vaccinated. We take a similar approach with trying to make sure all our staff are vaccinated for influenza.
"The mandate is already there for nursing homes. I think if one of your elderly relatives was in a nursing home, you would find that reassuring.
"I think most people will find it reassuring to know that if they're coming into a hospital, staff are vaccinated for patients protection.
"So, I think the majority of people are going to feel that it's a sensible move."
The hospital currently has the highest uptake of the vaccine in the country, with 95% of staff jabbed.
Alastair Hutchison said:
"The concern of course, is that it might dissuade people from continuing to work if they're adamant they don't want to have the vaccination.
"The number of people who might be objecting to having the vaccination is clearly very small and throughout the COVID pandemic, we've had to make adjustments to some staff members job plans or work places because they've either been in one of the vulnerable groups, or they've been unable to get an early vaccination.
"We are used to making adjustments for a small number of staff and it's conceivable that we might need to do that again.
"I think with only just over 5% of our staff unvaccinated, it's probably quite unlikely."