Tonight:
9°c
Doctors and nurses in London were today urged to get themselves vaccinated against swine flu.
Some health chiefs are asking hospital consultants to act as role models amid concerns that many staff will refuse to have the jab.
The move comes as hospitals across the capital start their programme to inoculate staff. More than two million health and social care staff who work directly with patients are being offered the vaccine as a priority.
Government health chiefs say they have a "duty of care" to be immunised despite recent polls showing that nearly half of GPs and nurses will refuse.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is among those which are writing to staff, urging them to protect themselves and patients by getting immunised.
Andrew MacCallum, the hospital's director of nursing, said: "I'm writing to senior nurses and midwives in our hospital, encouraging them to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
"We have robust plans to cope with the swine flu pandemic and we are asking our front line staff to protect themselves, their patients and colleagues by getting immunised."
Dr Gary Hartnoll, from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is among senior staff taking up the vaccination offer.
He said: "I will be having the vaccination because it is the best way to ensure I remain fit to look after our patients. That is vital at a time when we know it is likely many people will contract swine flu and have to spend time off work, which could leave us short-staffed.
"I work in a neonatal unit where we care for sick and very premature babies who are vulnerable to infection, so I will do anything I can to protect them."
It is not compulsory for staff to be vaccinated but both the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Nursing said it was vital for nurses and doctors do so.
Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the RCP, said: "It is clearly important to maintain a health workforce that is as fit as possible during a flu pandemic, and the RCP hopes that consultants will take a lead in encouraging other healthcare workers to be immunised. They are well-placed to set an example."
Reader views (3)
1. It's not clinically tested on pregnant mothers and young children - the target groups.
2. The vaccines contains mercury and other banned substances - banned due to severe side effects.
Autoimmune reactions including paralysis are a chance you take. Don't be bullied by this government. You will pay the price and the government will remain silent about how you suffer.
- Uksecretcourts, London
The only example they would be setting is a very BAD one, and just goes to show how weak their argument is to recommend it.
Why don't those proponents of the vaccine admit how colossally wrong they got it, hang their heads in shame and quite simply, shut up!
- Ralph, London
Most of the medical staff I know are fully aware that the 'swine flu' vaccine was never developed to combat 'swine flu' and are refusing the jab. Food for thought?
- Marianne, SW France/London
