She's only been retired a few months, yet the draw of supporting our annual vaccination programme was too much for former matron, Karen Farrar, to resist. So she's stepping in to catch up with colleagues and help protect them and our vulnerable patients at the same time.

Karen said: "It's a pleasure to return to CHFT to be part of the winter vaccination programme and it's so lovely to be back amongst my fabulous colleagues.

"It's really important for colleagues to be vaccinated and we are currently offering both the flu and Covid vaccines. We recommend both, but if you only want one or the other that's absolutely fine and we are more than happy to see you. Being vaccinated helps protect you, your patients, family and friends and we have a fabulous teams of vaccinators on both sites ready and waiting to give you your jabs and answer any of your questions. So come on CHFT - let's get to it!"

Clinic information

Times: Weekdays until Thursday 31st October between 08:15 and 17:45

Locations:

• The HRI vaccination clinic will be taking place in our Integrated Flow Hub, which used to be the location of our old A&E. The clinic is best accessed from the old walk in entrance on North Drive. Turn left after the main reception, go through the double doors and then turn left again.
• At CRH the clinic will take place in the old Rainbow Centre. This is now where our Orthopaedics Clinics are based, but the team are kindly allowing us to use two rooms. The Family Room will be the clinic waiting area and the Green Room will be the vaccination hub. Both are accessible via the glass corridor entrance to keep disruption to the clinic to a minimum.  

More information:

No appointment is needed but please take along your NHS Number and employee/payroll ID.

Colleagues over the age of 65 can also pick up their flu jab at the clinic this year, and the vaccine has no egg products included. 

After 31st October, our peer immunisers will continue offering the flu vaccine only back at their wards and departments.