"The words ‘thank you’ do not seem enough to express my gratitude for the incredible work you have all done to keep residents, colleagues and communities safe, both as individuals and teams, throughout 2021. They are, however, deeply heartfelt" says Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy in this Christmas message to the care workforce.
The nights are drawing in and autumn is becoming winter. This change in season brings with it increasing risks from seasonal viruses, including flu. UKHSA's Dr. Éamonn O'Moore explains why getting the flu jab is more important than ever.
A new network of adult social care infection prevention and control champions launches 30 November to help maintain and improve standards across the care sector. Run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute, the scheme is supported by Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Deborah Sturdy OBE. Lessons learned from the pandemic will be rolled out to help minimise the spread of infections, including COVID-19 and flu.
Selina Morris's colleagues at the Close Care Home asked her many times if she had taken the flu jab. Her answer had always been no, until she read up on flu and COVID-19 vaccines and why having both was vital to keeping colleagues, residents and visitors safe.
Former ADASS President Sir David Pearson was asked to lead a review of the Adult Social Care COVID-19 Winter Plan 2020 to 2021 and its subsequent implementation. As this year's plan launches, he shares its findings, recommendations and hopes for the future of social care.
Millions of eligible people, including care staff, are now being offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine. Natasha Edwards, Registered Manager at Evergreen Care Home, explains why she and her colleagues are fully behind the booster AND the winter flu jab.
When PHE's Dr. Éamonn O'Moore was seeing patients, he knew how crucial it was for all who work directly with vulnerable people to make sure they had a flu jab every year. He felt it was his professional responsibility to protect himself, his colleagues, and those in his care. A new winter vaccination campaign has launched to encourage all health and care staff to get their flu and covid-booster jabs sorted.
The thought of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was a little bit scary to begin with for Cygnet Healthcare's Raf Hamaiza. Like many others, he struggled to make sense of information pouring in from all directions. In this blog, he explains how he found clarity and peace of mind - for himself and his colleagues.
Barchester Healthcare has been working tirelessly, in difficult circumstances, to protect and reassure its colleagues, residents and their relatives about COVID-19 and vaccinations throughout the course of the pandemic. Chief Executive Dr Peter Calveley explains how he and his team worked hard to keep staff updated on the vaccination roll out and allay their concerns about having the jab.
COVID-19 vaccination has to be comprehensive to be truly effective as protection – particularly for those most vulnerable to infection. While the SAGE recommended levels of at least 80% of care home staff and 90% of residents have been reached and exceeded in many parts of England, regional variation persists.
Deborah Sturdy, our Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, explains why the Government, following wide consultation with the care sector, has taken the difficult decision to make vaccination a mandatory condition of deployment in care homes.
