Category: News

Thousands of people across Devon can now book their flu and covid-19 vaccines online, as the NHS booking system opens ahead of what could be a challenging winter for the health service.

As part of the NHS’s commitment to make it ever more convenient for people to book in for their winter vaccines, all eligible adults can book their vaccination appointment through www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/keep-warm-keep-well, by downloading the NHS App or by calling 119.

New figures show more than 127,000 people in Devon have already received their flu jabs since the start of the campaign in September, with many people choosing to “do the double” and receive their flu and Covid-19 vaccines at the same time.

During the same period, more than 110,000 Covid-19 jabs have been delivered in Devon, providing vital protection to those at greater risk of severe illness.

Last winter saw NHS staff treating significant numbers of patients in hospital with respiratory illnesses such as flu and Covid-19, and health bosses are encouraging people to come forward for their vaccines as soon as possible to better protect themselves and those around them this winter.

Care home residents were among the first to have had their protection topped-up ahead of colder months when flu, Covid-19 and other viruses circulate more. Across Devon, vaccination teams are well-ahead of the timeline and have already visited 65% of care homes.

Driven by analysis of local data, the NHS vaccination campaign has sent invitations to eligible adults over the past two weeks, including those with an underlying health condition and people aged 65 and over, to book flu and Covid-19 vaccination appointments.

The vaccination campaign is among a package of NHS measures to prepare for winter, with the health service already facing immense pressure from ongoing industrial action and demand on emergency services, alongside the threat from viruses circulating more during colder months as more people gather together indoors.

The vaccination programme was brought forward based on the latest expert advice following the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant, and the NHS is encouraging everyone eligible to book an appointment to get their flu and Covid-19 vaccines as soon as possible, to protect those most at risk this winter.

Dr Alex Degan, GP in Mid Devon, said: “The best thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, and the NHS this winter, is to get your winter vaccinations and ensure you are ‘winter strong’.

“Last winter, hospitals saw significant numbers of people being treated for viruses like flu and Covid-19, and vaccines are our best defence – it is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or Covid-19 before, as immunity fades over time and the viruses change each year.

“With thousands of appointments for vaccinations now available, at various locations right across the county, we urge people to come forward for both jabs now.”

Parents of children aged 2 and 3 years (on 31 August) should book a nasal spray flu vaccine for their child at their local GP surgery.

The schools programme also began in early September, with those aged 4 years up to those aged 16 years (school year 11) being offered a nasal spray vaccine, or an injection if this is unsuitable.

Covid vaccinations for those aged 5 to 11 years and eligible for a seasonal vaccination will begin later in October, and the NHS will let eligible families know when this offer opens.

It is important young people take up the vaccine as it protects the child themselves and helps stop the spread to vulnerable people around them, including babies, grandparents and people with weak immune systems.

Pregnant people are eligible for winter vaccinations and the jabs will help protect both them and their baby. To book a vaccination, they can contact their GP, a pharmacy, via the NHS App, 119, or through their midwife.

GP practices and other local NHS services have also been contacting people to offer both flu and Covid-19 vaccines, sometimes in the same visit. Where this is not possible, it is better to get each vaccine as soon as you can rather than waiting.

Communities in Devon can apply for a grant to support the improvement of Covid-19 vaccination knowledge and increase vaccine uptake among vulnerable groups.

The Covid 19 Vaccination Outreach Fund has been established to enable organisations from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across Devon to work with the local NHS on innovative projects and activities with vulnerable communities to help increase the uptake of Covid-19 vaccinations during the 2023/24 Autumn / Winter vaccine campaign.

Activities that can be supported through this fund include outreach to support vaccination uptake, building vaccine confidence via workshops, group meetings, engaging with vulnerable communities to explore barriers to uptake or providing vaccination clinics.

Communities can apply for more than one grant although limited funds are available and will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis. The programme will run until the end of January 2024 although, in line with Government priorities, vaccinations should be given as early as possible.

If your organisation is interested in applying for funding to support an increase in Covid-19 vaccination knowledge and outreach in your community, visit COVID-19 vaccination outreach fund – One Devon for more information and to submit an application.

The NHS in Devon is asking people to collect their loved ones from hospital, if they are ready to be discharged – before consultants, junior doctors and radiographers go on strike next week.

Consultants and junior doctors in Devon are set to strike from 7am on Monday 2 October until 7am on Thursday 5 October. This will be the longest period of double strike action ever. In addition, radiographers are also set to undertake industrial action for 24 hours from 8am on Tuesday 3 October.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “We are facing a perfect storm next week. We have three different strikes happening at the same time, and on top of that, they are taking place in the extra busy period straight after a weekend and following two weeks of huge pressure on healthcare services in Devon, so our hospitals are all very full.

“A high number of the county’s acute hospital beds are currently occupied by patients who are medically well enough to be discharged. To ensure we can free up beds for the really sick patients who are coming into our emergency departments, we ask anyone who has a loved one in hospital who is ready to come home, to come and collect them as soon as possible.”

If your loved one is ready to leave hospital, your support can help them return home. Simple arrangements such as checking in, helping with meals and supporting with daily tasks mean that people can get home more quickly and will be supported to stay well.

The checklist for getting someone home from hospital:

  • Is there somewhere clean and comfortable for them to recover?
  • Do they have clean clothes to come home in?
  • Is there lunch and dinner for their first day home?
  • Do they need any essentials such as food, drink or medicines?
  • If you’re driving, make sure you have checked the route and where to park.

Local people are also being reminded to use services wisely over the three days of industrial action to help the NHS cope with the challenging period ahead, as staffing levels will be reduced to limited ‘Christmas Day’ cover. During the last round of industrial action from 19 – 22 September there were 2,448 appointments at Devon Trusts rescheduled because of the strikes.

This industrial action by radiographers will impact many services for both the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation trust areas. (Radiographers at Royal Devon University Healthcare are not participating in industrial action.) Radiographers are healthcare professionals who operate scanning machines that take medical images which are used to diagnose different health conditions, for example x-rays to diagnose fractures.

The message from the NHS in Devon, for patients who need medical treatment during the strikes, is that urgent and emergency care will be there for you but please choose the right service for your needs. The advice for patients is to:

  • Continue to call 999 in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk
  • Go to NHS 111 online if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital; you can also phone 111
  • Check local hospital trust websites for information on Walk-In Centres, Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. Further information can be found here: Health Pressures – One Devon
  • Anyone with a hospital appointment should continue to attend as planned, unless they’ve been contacted to rearrange
  • If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from a number of places:

    o 24/7 urgent mental health helpline 0808 196 8708
    o Mental Health Matters helpline (24/7) 0800 470 0317
    o Mental Health Crisis Line Plymouth is open 24/7 0800 923 9323
    o Samaritans 1116 123
    o Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 text support
  • Play your part by taking simple steps during the industrial action to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. A first step is making sure your medicine cabinet is well stocked
  • Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Details of which pharmacies are open over the bank holiday weekend can be found via the interactive map here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/pharm-info/pharmacyopening-
    hours/

Dr Acheson concludes: “We need people to use the most appropriate service for their need. The NHS in Devon will still be here for those who need us and people suffering a life-threatening emergency should not hesitate to contact 999 or attend one of our emergency departments.

“But, I ask everyone else to carefully consider which service could help them best during the strike periods. 111 online is available for advice and your own GP or local pharmacy will be able to provide a range of other care.”

A pioneering partnership project is revolutionising care and cutting waiting lists for people in Devon who need planned operations like cataract surgery and replacement hips and knees.

The One Devon Elective Pilot is changing the way surgical teams work by widening the use of, and embedding, nationally-recognised best practice processes across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

Those best practice methods – which include surgical teams working from different locations across Devon and making best use of theatres and bed capacity – mean people are now being treated every day across three specialties:

  • Orthopaedics – such as hip and knee replacements
  • Ophthalmology – cataract procedures and diagnostic approaches for patients potentially with medical retina or glaucoma
  • Spinal surgical services – including creating more capacity for less complex procedures such as treatment for herniated or degenerative discs

The project has the backing of NHS organisations in Devon and is supported by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, led by Professor Tim Briggs, Chair of GIRFT and NHS England’s National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery.

Dr Nigel Acheson, NHS Devon’s Chief Medical Officer, said: “This project has meant a major change in the way we approach planned operations to help us address our waiting list challenges. Our clinical teams are learning from one another and supporting each other and I’d like to congratulate them on embracing new ways of working and thinking.

“Waiting times were an issue in Devon before COVID-19 and the need to shift our priorities during the pandemic has meant many more people are now waiting too long for care. Although we still have a long way to go, we have made good progress and the One Devon Elective Pilot helps us build on the fantastic work done so far to make use of nationally-recognised best practice approaches and new operating theatres to further cut waiting times for local people.”

Trauma and orthopaedics and ophthalmology are the initial focus of the programme as they have the highest proportion of patients waiting long periods, but operations and procedures continue in other specialties. Patients are prioritised for treatment based on how long they have been waiting or their clinical need.

Prof Briggs said: “This is a unique pilot driven by GIRFT and the One Devon ICB supporting clinical and operational teams to work collaboratively, maximising new and existing capacity within the Devon trusts to reduce waiting times, improve access to services, and deliver the best possible care to the patients of Devon.

“GIRFT is supporting Devon’s hospital trusts and surgical teams to create robust and sustainable healthcare services not only for Devon but also for neighbouring counties where Devon supports services across the peninsula.

“We are all working together to ensure patients receive safe and high-quality care by future proofing local services.”

Like all other areas of the country, Devon’s health and care organisations became part of an Integrated Care System (ICS) in July last year, known as One Devon. This change will increasingly mean NHS and care organisations breaking down traditional barriers between them and taking a more collaborative approach to providing care for patients.

Before the pandemic, trusts in Devon faced challenges with the number of people waiting too long to access planned procedures. During the pandemic, tightened infection, prevention and control measures meant not as many operations could be carried out in a given day due to the impact on staff and theatre capacity, while many planned operations were postponed so urgent and cancer care could be prioritised.

This led to a large backlog and many people are still waiting too long for treatment, a position that has been made worse by recent industrial action.

Figures for the end of May 2023 reported in NHS Devon’s July Board papers showed that 162 people in Devon were still waiting more than 104 weeks for treatment, 1,288 were waiting 78 weeks and 5,056 were waiting 52 weeks. In March 2020, the number of people waiting 52 weeks was 249.

Bringing down waiting lists for planned care is also a key priority for the Devon system as part of its work to move out of segment four of the NHS Oversight Framework (NOF4). Being in segment four means the county gets ‘intensive’ support from NHS England – including additional reporting requirements and financial controls – with the aim of improving its financial and operational performance.

The backlog of planned care patients remains despite extraordinary efforts by NHS teams to reduce waiting lists. Between April 2022 and June 2023, nearly 16,000 people waiting more than 78 weeks have been treated, bringing down the number of people waiting 78 weeks by more than 75% compared to March 2022.

In the same period, teams across Devon have treated around 535,000 people on our planned care waiting lists.

And in the three months to December 2022, hard-working surgical teams achieved the highest level (108%) of inpatient planned care in the country, compared to before the pandemic.

Meanwhile, at the Centre of Excellence for Eyes (CEE) at the NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter, which is part of the pilot, teams are celebrating completing a cataract operation on their 1,000th patient, (see picture) with one of the lowest-recorded complication rates in the world. Surgeons from trusts across Devon can carry out cataract lists for low-risk patients at CEE.

Since opening in 2022, the CEE has been offering low-complexity high-quality cataract surgery to people across Devon, and this latest milestone highlights the vital work being done to help reduce the local waiting times for these procedures. 

The One Devon Elective Pilot is building on these achievements and taking them to the next level to ensure as many people are treated as possible every day.

The pilot is:

  • Maximising the number of people being treated as a day case, as opposed to staying overnight in a hospital bed, in line with national best practice for appropriate hip, knee and spinal surgery.
  • Ensuring that where a patient needs to stay overnight, they are safely discharged home to start their recovery in familiar settings as soon as possible (in line with GIRFT best practice)
  • Standardising the ‘pathway’ at recognised best practice levels that all patients follow from referral by a GP to treatment, no matter what part of the county they live in, or which NHS trust is responsible for their care
  • Making the most of efficient use of operating theatre capacity across Devon
  • Supporting surgical teams from local trusts to work at different sites in Devon to make the best use of operating theatres
  • Embedding GIRFT best practice by demonstrating it and training clinical leaders from all Devon’s NHS trusts at selected centres, such as Nightingale Exeter, and then supporting them to roll it out at their own trusts
  • Ensuring all providers are able to offer lower risk (sometimes known as high volume, low complexity (HVLC)) procedure lists for procedures such as hip and knee replacements and non-complex cataract surgery

The One Devon Elective Pilot has already helped make a significant difference to waiting lists:

  • Between October 2022 and May 2023 the number of patients waiting more than 78-weeks in trauma and orthopaedics has reduced by 35 % (going from 1,093 to 384, with the total number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks continuing to reduce.
  • For cataracts removal, NHS providers in Devon are providing more ‘high volume’ clinic lists for patients with simple cataracts, reducing the waiting list for local people
  • In its first phase, the spinal surgery programme has seen all trusts work collaboratively to offer patients waiting over 78 weeks an appointment they wouldn’t otherwise have had.

The South West Ambulatory Orthopaedic Centre (SWAOC) at the Nightingale Hospital in Exeter recently became one of eight elective surgical hubs to be awarded accreditation as part of a pilot scheme to ensure the highest standards in clinical and operational practice. The programme, run by the GIRFT programme in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, assesses hubs against a framework of standards to help them deliver faster access to some of the most common surgical procedures. The hub beds are designated for patients waiting for planned surgical procedures, and are protected from emergency admissions, reducing the risk of short-notice cancellations – a way of delivering care known as protected elective capacity (PEC).

SWAOC is unique in that it is the only PEC hub nationwide that is an asset used by the whole local health system. Surgeons from Torbay Hospital and North Devon District Hospital, as well as the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, use the facility to and the best practice approaches to treat their patients, offering them their surgery sooner than at ‘home’ trust.

All surgical teams who are part of the pilot and are being trained in the GIRFT best practice methods are looking at how they maximise theatre capacity at their ‘home’ hospitals which can mean, for example, doing additional sessions at weekends. There are a number of initiatives due to come on stream across the system this year where the pilot programme is aiming to ensure the GIRFT best practice processes are used:

  • In October University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust will open its new ophthalmology unit, the Royal Eye Infirmary (REI), The facility has been funded by NHS England’s Targeted Investment Fund.
  • North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple has also seen a new orthopaedic ward open, which has increased capacity.
  • There are planned improvements to facilities for orthopaedic surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth
  • Further development at Torbay Hospital will provide operating theatres for day case surgery and ophthalmology surgery.
  • The £1.4 million South Molton Eye Centre opened in May for patients with eye conditions in Northern Devon and Torridge. The centre will use best practice techniques for diagnostic services and treatments for people with new eye problems and people managing long-term conditions, such as glaucoma and medical retina

In addition, hospital teams are working hard to make sure as many beds as possible are available for patients receiving planned care by reducing the number of patients who remain in hospital but are medically fit to leave (sometimes known as ‘no criteria to reside’ (NCTR)). Devon’s NHS has made good progress in this area with the percentage of NCTR patients down from as high as 22% during the peak winter pressures period to 9% for the system as a whole, against a target of 5%.

The One Devon Elective Pilot is also helping to deliver three of the four core aims of integrated care systems:

  • Improve outcomes in population health and healthcare – by using nationally recognised best practice methods and reducing waiting times
  • Tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access – by standardising patient pathways and allowing patients faster access to care
  • Enhance productivity and value for money – by making efficient use of teams and theatres.

It is hoped that in turn, this will help the NHS in Devon develop ways of working that are fit for the future and provide a boost for staff through training in the latest surgical ways of working and allowing them to help more patients under their care – leading to improved recruitment and retention.

Hospitals in Devon are preparing to take all measures necessary to ensure the sickest patients get the help they need as industrial action by doctors continues.

A walk-out by junior doctors from 7am on Wednesday 20 September until 7am on Saturday 23 September has left many hospitals facing difficulties in filling rotas, especially over the next two evenings (Thursday and Friday).

Although consultants ended their separate 48-hour strike on Thursday morning, there remain far fewer clinical staff in hospital emergency departments than usual and the NHS in Devon has now entered OPEL 4 – the highest level of escalation – in light of the continued pressures.

All partners across the county’s health and care system have been working hard to take action to mitigate the disruption caused by the strikes but are now preparing to deploy further measures if they are needed in coming days.

This could involve people in Devon who aren’t critically ill being re-directed from hospital emergency departments to other services to allow the reduced number of staff on shift to care for the patients most in need of emergency treatment. This means clinicians assessing all those arriving and, where a patient’s needs can be safely met by a different service or at a different time, they will be redirected to that service.

Ambulances who attend call-outs across Devon and parts of South East Cornwall may need to take patients to an emergency department that isn’t their local hospital where they may be seen sooner, depending on the needs of the patient and the pressures in the EDs at the time.

The advice to local people who use Devon’s hospitals is:

  • If you have a life-threatening emergency – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk – you should still call 999 immediately.
  • Patients who require urgent treatment, but do not have symptoms of a life-threatening condition, should call 111 or use the 111 service online.
  • If you attend ED, you will be seen by a clinician but you may be re-directed to another service if you do not require urgent care.
  • Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications.
  • For anyone who needs urgent mental health support:
    • Devon County Council and Torbay Council areas
      • If you are aged 18 or over and experiencing a mental health crisis you can call Mental Health Matters on 0800 47 00 317 or visit your local Mooring (Torquay, Exeter and Barnstaple).
      • If you have no physical health problem and feel like you urgently need to call 999 or attend A&E, the First Response Service is there for you 0808 196 8708.
      • Full information on support can be found at www.dpt.nhs.uk
    • Plymouth City Council area
      • First Response is Plymouth’s 24/7 mental health crisis line. Staff are on hand to provide support to you or a loved one in a mental health crisis: 0800 923 9323
    • South East Cornwall
      • Cornwall has a 24hr mental health crisis helpline: 0800 038 5300

Devon’s Chief Medical Officer Nigel Acheson said: “We have been doing everything we can to keep patients and colleagues safe through this period of extreme pressure due to the industrial action.

“We are ready to put in place all measures needed to make sure we can look after the people who most desperately need our help. We are counting on the understanding of local people at this difficult time and we encourage everyone to follow the advice we are giving today.”

NHS Devon’s annual general meeting (AGM) will take place on Wednesday 27 September 2023 from 5pm to 6pm.

The event will be broadcast online where viewers will be able watch the event and post questions in real time.

A recording will be published on NHS Devon’s website after the event for those who were unable to attend.

The meeting will cover the 2022/23 financial year which includes the three months when the organisation was a clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the subsequent months from July 2022 to April 2023 after it became an integrated care board (ICB).

Anyone is welcome to join as senior leaders present an overview of the past year, including key achievements, finances and service performance.

To register your interest in attending or submit questions ahead of the meeting, please email d-icb.governance@nhs.net.

Consultants in Devon are set to strike from the 19-20 September and junior doctors are set to strike from 20-22 September. NHS services across the county are preparing for double the impact with both groups due to strike together for the first time on 20 September.

Local people are being encouraged to use services wisely over the four days of industrial action to help the NHS cope with the challenging period ahead. On the day when junior doctors and consultants will both be taking industrial action (20 September), a minimum level of ‘Christmas Day’ medical staffing will be in place.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “Teams across the NHS in Devon are doing their best to prepare for the upcoming industrial action but these strikes are set to be the most difficult yet in terms of impact on the day-to-day running of our services and on patients.

“We’re asking people to use the most appropriate service for their need. The NHS in Devon will still be here for those who need us and people suffering a life-threatening emergency should not hesitate to contact 999 or attend one of our emergency departments. However, I ask everyone else to carefully consider which service could help them best during the strike periods. 111 online is available for advice and your own GP or local pharmacy will be able to provide a range of other care.”

The message from the NHS in Devon is that urgent and emergency care will be there for you, but please choose the right service for your needs. The advice for patients is to:

  • Continue to call 999 in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk
  • Go to NHS 111 online if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital; you can also phone 111
  • Please check local hospital trust websites for information on Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. Further information can be found here: Health Pressures – One Devon
  • Anyone with a hospital appointment should continue to attend as planned, unless they’ve been contacted to rearrange
  • If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from a number of places:
  • 24/7 urgent mental health helpline 0808 196 8708
  • Mental Health Matters helpline (24/7) 0800 470 0317
  • Mental Health Crisis Line Plymouth is open 24/7 0800 923 9323
  • Samaritans 1116 123
  • Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 text support
  • Play your part by taking simple steps during the industrial action to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. A first step is making sure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked
  • Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Details of which pharmacies are open over the bank holiday weekend can be found via the interactive map here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/pharm-info/pharmacy-opening-hours/
  • Parents and carers in the South West urged to get children vaccinated against flu
  • Over 10,000 children hospitalised across England due to flu last winter
  • Flu vaccination best way to protect children from serious illness and limit spread of the virus to more vulnerable family and friends
  • Last winter, 55.3% of 4-14 year olds in the South West received the flu vaccine

The annual NHS flu vaccination programme for children, including those aged 2-3 years, school age children, including home-schooled, and children over 6 months with certain health conditions, is getting underway, with parents and carers beginning to receive invites from this week.

The UKHSA and NHS England are calling on parents and carers in the South West to ensure children’s consent forms are completed, and that eligible pre-schoolers are booked in for appointments at their GP practice, to help halt the spread of flu this autumn and winter.

Over 500,000 children in Reception to Year 11 in the South West will be offered the free nasal spray flu vaccine, delivered in schools by immunisation teams up and down the country. Children aged 2 and 3 (on or before 31 August) and those in a clinical risk group are eligible for the free nasal spray via their GP practice.

Children aged between 6 months and 2 years with a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu will be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray. This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under 2 years old.

Flu rebounded last winter after being kept low since March 2020 by COVID-19 control measures. UKHSA’s preliminary analysis found that deaths linked to flu last winter were the highest since 2017-18. Over 10,000 children were hospitalised in England last winter due to the infection. Vaccination effectiveness data from last year showed that the vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalisations by two thirds.

Flu vaccine is the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus. Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children causing fever, extreme tiredness, aching muscles and joints, stuffy nose, dry cough, and sore throat. Complications of flu include painful inflammation inside the ear, and pneumonia that makes breathing difficult.

Each winter thousands of children need to go to hospital for treatment, including intensive care, with children under the age of 5 years having one of the highest rates of hospital admissions due to flu. By getting vaccinated, your child also protects others around them, including babies, grandparents and people with weak immune systems.

Dr Julie Yates, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA South West, said:

“Flu can be more than just an unpleasant illness in children – for some an infection is life-threatening, including kids who are normally very active and healthy. Flu vaccines give vital protection – not just keeping kids well, but also out of hospital. Each winter thousands of children require treatment in hospital for flu or its complications.

“Many of these episodes could be prevented by a simple nasal spray. On top of helping to keep your child healthy, the flu vaccine also helps stop the spread of flu in the community – helping to protect those who are more vulnerable and the elderly such as grandparents.

“When you get the electronic or paper consent form from the NHS school immunisation team, please make sure you return it, so your child doesn’t miss their nasal spray vaccination session. If you have a pre-schooler aged 2 or 3 on the 31st of August, you should make an appointment to get their nasal spray vaccination at your GP practice.”

NHS Consultant in Public Health, Screening and Immunisation Lead, South West, Dr Matthew Dominey said:

“With children recently returning to school, it is essential that they are vaccinated against flu as quickly as possible to protect themselves and their vulnerable loved ones. 

“This winter could pose a serious threat to our children and young people with the possibility of higher rates of flu, and we want to make sure they are protected from these potentially serious dangers.

“The fast and easy nasal spray has a proven record of protecting children who need it most, with the NHS offering it to the majority of children this year. 

“I would encourage anyone with questions to come forward and speak to your GP, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional for advice.”

If your child has a medical condition that makes them more at risk from flu, such as asthma or cerebral palsy, you can get them vaccinated at your GP practice if you don’t want to wait for the school session.  Children who can’t have the nasal spray for medical or faith reasons can have an injected flu vaccine instead, also provided free by the NHS.

The nasal spray vaccine does not cause flu, because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this from happening, but the weakened viruses help each child to build up immunity. This means vaccinated children will be better able to fight off flu. The vaccine is absorbed very quickly in the nose so even if the child sneezes immediately after having had the spray, there’s no need to worry that it hasn’t worked.

Side effects of the nasal spray are typically mild if present at all. Children may develop a runny or blocked nose, headache, general tiredness, and some loss of appetite. However, these are much milder than developing flu or complications of flu, and some of these will be due to common cold viruses circulating at the time the flu vaccine is given.

Infections such as flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), norovirus (the winter vomiting bug) and scarlet fever (caused by group A strep) usually start to rise throughout Autumn and Winter.Keeping children off school when unwell is important to slowing the spread of many illnesses. The nasal spray vaccine, which offers very good protection against flu, may also help contribute to reductions in the rates of GAS infections among children.

  • If your child is unwell and has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better, and the fever has resolved.
  • If your child has diarrhoea and/or vomits, they should stay off school or nursery for at least 48 hours after their symptoms clear up.
  • It’s fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes.

Residents of older adult care homes and people who are housebound will begin receiving their covid and flu vaccinations from today, as the NHS kickstarts the winter vaccinations campaign.

The adult covid and flu vaccination programme, which was brought forward on expert JCVI advice due to the risks presented by a new covid variant, will prioritise those at greatest risk.

Starting with care homes and people who are housebound, other eligible groups will begin to be invited to get their top up protection ahead of winter, from next week.

NHS staff have worked hard to prepare for the earlier start of the programme – 3,500 sites, more sites than ever before, will be taking part in the campaign this year to make it as easy as possible for people to get protection.

People will be able to book their jabs from 18 September, through the NHS website, the NHS App or by calling 119.

Eligible groups may also be offered a vaccination sooner by GP surgeries or other local NHS services.

The NHS is encouraging people to get both vaccinations as soon as they can and not delay, due to the risk of the new COVID-19 variant and ahead of the winter period. 

It is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year. 

With the programme brought forward, vaccine providers will be given an additional payment of £10 for each COVID-19 vaccination they administer to care home residents between Sept 11th to October 22nd. They will also be given a separate one-off payment of £200 for each completed care home by the end of October 22nd.

For other eligible groups, vaccine providers will receive an additional £5 acceleration payment will be made available for each COVID-19 vaccination administered to eligible people between 11 September and 31 October 2023.

Last year, the NHS faced the ‘twindemic’ of flu and covid with high occupancy in hospitals and record pressure on staff and plans for this winter are already underway. 

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said: “The NHS flu and covid vaccination programmes have been very effective in protecting those at greatest risk and we will work at speed to ensure they are protected once again this year, starting with care homes and those who are housebound today.

“With concerns arising over new covid variants, it’s vital we adapt the programme and bring it forward for those most at risk, and so I strongly urge everyone eligible to come forward as soon as they can for this important protection in colder month.

“NHS staff have worked hard to ensure services are ready for patients to get jabbed at an earlier stage so they can get their protection as soon as possible.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: “Older people and those in clinical risk groups remain at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

“The rollout of this year’s autumn booster begins in care homes today, with more eligible groups being invited to get protected over the coming weeks.

“The vaccine continues to provide the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from COVID-19, so please make sure you get vaccinated when offered and encourage loved ones who are eligible to do the same.”

Children aged 2-17 will still be able to receive their flu vaccinations from next week. Parents are strongly encouraged to fill out their consent forms so enable their child to get protected.

The most effective vaccine for children is the nasal vaccine, which is even more convenient and easily administered when compared to a jab.

Following guidance and announcements from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS England brought forward its covid and flu vaccination programme which was due to commence at the beginning of October.

In total, more than 149 million covid-19 vaccinations have now been given by healthcare staff and volunteers since the NHS delivered the world’s first COVID-19  jab in December 2020.

Last year, the NHS carried out its second biggest ever flu vaccination campaign, with more than 21 million flu vaccinations given to adults and children, while more than 17 million COVID-19 jabs were delivered last winter.

Earlier this year, NHS England announced more than 86 million Covid vaccination appointments have been arranged using the NHS’s national online booking system since its launch two years ago.

The largest providers of mental health care in Devon and Cornwall have appointed a joint non-executive director for the first time – to help build closer relationships between the two organisations.

The Board of Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) was delighted to welcome Miriam Maddison (pictured) to its July meeting. Miriam also serves on the board of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

DPT’s Chief Executive Officer Melanie Walker said: “Miriam’s appointment is part of our efforts to build a closer relationship with our partners in Cornwall.

“We face many of the same challenges and we are looking forward to working more closely together – strategically and operationally – to deliver greater consistency and improved quality for people in Devon and Cornwall with mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity needs.” You can read more about Miriam on the websites of DPT and CPFT.