Health official praises ‘phenomenal’ work of NHS staff in Hertfordshire

The ‘phenomenal’ work of staff during a ‘relentless year’ has been recognised by leading healthcare official Jane Halpin

Speaking at the first joint meeting of Hertfordshire and west Essex CCGs, accountable officer Jane Halpin pointed to the recent increase in serious illness from mid-December and to the roll-out of the vaccination programme.

And she praised the ongoing work of staff working in all sectors of the NHS.

“The response of staff providing care in all sectors – primary care, mental health services, acute care – has just been phenomenal,” she said.

“This has been an incredibly relentless year for staff – and people have kept going and kept proving care and support to very large numbers of very seriously ill people.”

Dr Halpin said there was a ‘real recognition’ of the strain this had placed on staff – and said there was ongoing work to support the well-being of staff, as well as patients.

She also praised the “tremendous” work in rolling out a community-wide vaccination programme ‘at pace and at scale’.

“We have been hugely successful locally in reaching the priority cohorts,” she said.

“And that is in no small measure part of why we are now seeing far fewer cases of Covid illness in hospital and far fewer in community settings.”

Dr Halpin made the remarks at a joint meeting of the Hertfordshire and west Essex CCGs, which was held virtually on Thursday, March 25.