Urgent call for retired and former clinicians to help with COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Dacorum

The NHS in Hertfordshire and west Essex has issued an urgent call for nurses, pharmacists, doctors and other medically-trained professionals to support the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The news that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has also been approved for use in the UK is a tremendous boost to the efforts to combat COVID-19, saving lives and helping our communities to return to a more normal way of life.

If you are a retired or former clinician, or you are currently not working clinically but have time to offer, your NHS needs your help.

COVID-19 vaccination centres are up and running in a variety of settings and locations across Hertfordshire, with more planned to open very soon.

Each centre needs to be staffed by a team of people in a variety of roles, including preparing and administering the vaccine and observing people after they have received it.

Sarah Browne, director of Nursing and Quality at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, said: “We have a range of paid roles offered on a flexible basis, including outside of usual working hours to fit with other responsibilities.

"By coming forward, you will be part of a team helping to deliver the largest and most important vaccination programme in the history of the NHS – and will help to ensure that the health service can continue to support everyone who needs it.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who is registered with a professional body, including nurses, therapists and pharmacists. You can express your interest by emailing your CV to [email protected] and our team will be in touch shortly to explain the next steps.

"For all roles, we will provide appropriate training, supervision and PPE.”

NHS organisations in Hertfordshire and west Essex are facing multiple pressures this winter, with rising numbers of people with COVID-19 and other conditions needing urgent medical care, and staff themselves affected by both COVID and the requirement to self-isolate.

They have begun to vaccinate local people with the COVID-19 vaccine, starting with those aged over 80, older people living in care homes and the staff who care for them.

If you’re already working for the NHS and want to help, please speak with your line manager in the first instance.

For more information about the types of roles available click here.