STAFF and volunteers at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s four hospitals and community services have been helping to beat the seasonal winter flu bug and protect patients by getting themselves vaccinated.

Over the last month, staff at the trust have been lining up to get jabbed and do their bit to provide safe patient care and protect their patients and their families.

More than 1,000 trust staff have been vaccinated so far against seasonal flu at the Trust’s four hospitals, including at Fairfield and North Manchester hospitals, and throughout its community services.

The flu jab should also help to avoid staff sickness, which can place extra pressure on services.

Gill Harris, the trust’s chief nurse, said: "I can’t stress enough how important it is for health professionals to get their flu jab. If we take care of our own health, it follows that we will be taking care of our patients’ health.

"Having the flu jab helps to prevent a serious flu outbreak at our hospitals and in the local community.”

According to NHS Employers’ Flu Fighter campaign, vaccination uptake in healthcare workers with direct patient care continues to increase, from 35 per cent in 2010/11, 45 per cent in 2011/12, 46 per cent in 2012/13 and 55 per cent in 2013/14.

Members of the public seeking to receive the free flu jab should contact their GP practice.