By Alistair Lockhart, Local Democracy Reporter
A South London hospital could be hit hard by staff shortages next year with thousands still not double-jabbed.
Guy’s and St Thomas’s Trust – the third-largest NHS employer with 23,407 staff – could face losing 3,929 unvaccinated staff in April, with a double-jab rate of 83.2 per cent.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced in November that all frontline NHS workers would have to get two doses of the Covid vaccine by April or face losing their jobs.
Official NHS figures show that almost 40,000 NHS workers in London have not been double jabbed – meaning they could be sacked if not vaccinated by then.
Of 236,309 staff across 28 London health trusts, 196,685 (83.2 per cent) have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
This means that 39,624 have not had both jabs and could lose their jobs in spring if they do not receive them.
Such a huge shortage of staff could have a major impact on NHS services at these hospitals that are under mounting pressure.
But King’s Hospital Trust in Denmark Hill has the second highest rate of double-vaxxed staff at 88.1 per cent.
However, even these trusts could lose hundreds of staff if they don’t get their vaccines on time.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “As the Health and Social Care secretary said, NHS and care staff do amazing work and we are thankful to those who have chosen to get the vaccine.
“This is about patient safety – we know vaccines work and if those in hospital and care are exposed to Covid-19 it could be fatal. It’s our duty to ensure that they are as safe as can be.”
NHS London and Barts Health referred the Local Democracy Reporting Service to the DHSC for comment.
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