This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Staff Influenza vaccinations'.



Ref: FOI/1651 
 
 
19 June 2015 
 
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
 
 
Dear Mr Kembler 
 
REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 
 
Further to your enquiry, which we received on 25 May 2015, you requested the 
following information which we have provided our response in green below each 
question asked: 
 
I am interested in how ambulance services are helping their staff to receive 
influenza immunisations, which is an important aspect for both staff and patient 
wellbeing. 
 
I looked at the following PHE document and have the following questions: 
 
Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake amongst frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) 
in England February survey 2014/15 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...
 
 
1) Are the figures in the PHE report for your Ambulance Service and shown below 
correct? 
 
PHE REPORT 
 

Cumulative 
Jan 
% Vaccine Uptake 
To 
Difference 
14 
Feb 15 
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
56.1 
41.2 
14.9   
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS 
55.8 
48.6 
7.2   
Trust 
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 

49.3 
41.8 
7.5   
Trust 
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

47.4 
47.1 
0.3   
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
44.0 
47.0 
-3.0   
South Western Ambulance Service NHS 
44.0 
66.4 
-22.4   
Trust 
East Of England Ambulance Service NHS 

41.6 
26.7 
14.9   
Trust 
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

37.7 
38.5 
-0.8   
NE Ambulance Service NHS Foundation 
34.6 
29.9 
4.7   
Trust 
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 

34.4 
31.3 
3.1 
Trust 
 

 
FOI/1651 continued… 
Yes. All data has been collected and reported according to the ‘Seasonal influenza 
frontline healthcare workers vaccine uptake survey 2014/15 guidance’ document issued 
by Public Health England. 
 
2) The number of flu doses given increased by 473 from 2013/14 to 2014/15, and 
the % vaccinated increased from 31% to 34%. 
Staff involved in patient care increased by 1,115. 
 
The service has one of the lowest immunisation rates of Ambulance Services, are 
there particular reasons for this? 
 

Involved In Patient Care 
February 
January 
Difference 
2015 
2014 
North West Ambulance Service NHS 
3432 
4480 
-1048   
Trust 
South East Coast Ambulance Service 

2916 
2888 
28   
NHS Trust 
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 

2929 
2714 
215   
Trust 
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

3060 
3204 
-144   
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
2839 
2995 
-156   
South Western Ambulance Service NHS 
3121 
2508 
613   
Trust 
East Of England Ambulance Service 

4107 
3081 
1026   
NHS Trust 
South Central Ambulance Service NHS 

2079 
2001 
78   
Trust 
North East Ambulance Service NHS 

2080 
2064 
16   
Foundation Trust 
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 

3967 
2852 
1115 
Trust 
 

Flu Doses Given 
February 
January 
Difference 
2015 
2014 
North West Ambulance Service NHS 
1927 
1847 
80 
Trust 
South East Coast Ambulance Service 

1626 
1405 
221   
NHS Trust 
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 

1445 
1134 
311   
Trust 
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

1451 
1510 
-59   
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
1249 
1407 
-158   
South Western Ambulance Service NHS 
1374 
1665 
-291   
Trust 
East Of England Ambulance Service 

1709 
824 
885   
NHS Trust 
South Central Ambulance Service NHS 

784 
770 
14   
Trust 
North East Ambulance Service NHS 

720 
617 
103 
Foundation Trust 
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 

1366 
893 
473 
Trust  
 
No, there are no particular reasons. It should be noted that there was a year on year 
percentage increase in the vaccine uptake at West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS 
Foundation Trust (WMAS). Also, in terms of the number of doses given, WMAS has 

 
FOI/1651 continued… 
seen the second highest increase in the number of vaccines administered to staff 
involved in patient care. 
 
Please note, for the 2014/15 survey the NHS Classification ‘Support to Clinical Staff’ 
was requested to be collected. In the 2013/14 survey the classification was drilled down 
to include only ‘Support to ambulance staff’. 
 
3) The average % vaccine uptake for ambulance services is substantially lower 
than for Hospitals. Are there reasons for  this, what is the West Midlands 
Ambulance Service planning to do for  the 2015/16 winter vaccine uptake, and 
does it have a target for  2015/16? 
 
Hospital Trusts are usually based in one location. Some do have are regional or 
national centres for more specialised care, while others are attached to universities and 
help to train health professionals. 
 
WMAS serves a population of 5.6 million people covering an area of more than 5,000 
square miles made up of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, 
Warwickshire, Coventry, Birmingham and Black Country conurbation. 
WMAS operates from 16 fleet preparation hubs across the region and a network of over 
90 Community Ambulance Stations. The logistics for vaccination programme are 
somewhat different to that of a hospital trust. 
 
The planning for Flu immunisation programme for WMAS is currently in the early stages 
of discussion and is not available at this stage for dissemination.  
 
The strategic objective set by Public Health England includes actively offering the flu 
vaccination to 100% of all those in the eligible clinical risk groups, and vaccinating at 
least 75% of those aged 65 years and over, and healthcare workers with direct patient 
contact. WMAS will include this in its programme for 2015/16. 
 
We hope that this answers your request. If you are dissatisfied with our response you 
have the right to appeal in line with guidance from the Information Commissioner: 
 
In the first instance you may write to the Chief Executive Officer of this Trust 
 
  Mr A C Marsh 
Regional Headquarters 
Millennium Point 
Waterfront Way 
Brierley Hill 
West Midlands 
DY5 1LX 
01384 215555 
 
The Chief Executive Officer will then appoint a nominated deputy to oversee and 
respond to the appeal with their approval.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
FOI/1651 continued… 
If you are unhappy with the findings of the Panel you can then write to the Information 
Commissioner at: 
 
  Information Commissioner’s Office, 
Wycliffe House,  
Water Lane, 
Wilmslow, 
Cheshire. 
SK9 5AF 
Tel:  01625 545 700 
Fax: 01625 524 510 
 
 
If you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us. 
 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Lynsey Bull 
Freedom of Information Officer