‘We’ve broken the social contract between the NHS and its people’

‘We’ve broken the social contract between the NHS and its people’. That was the blunt conclusion of one senior NHS figure surveying the aftermath of the government’s U-turn on the mandatory vaccination of staff.

Most of the NHS’ leadership at national and local level were behind the policy of mandatory vaccination. They believed it was the right thing to do for patients, colleagues and the service.

But they were also acutely aware of the reluctance of some staff to get the jab and that changing their minds would be tough – and in some cases unsuccessful. They were also prepared to deal with the consequences of the failure to convert the waverers.

They put their credibility and reputations on the line to give the vaccination push as much chance of success as possible. They found time to have and facilitate difficult conversations, even though those discussions were bound to impact on morale at a time of huge pressure.

…and then the government pulled the rug from under them.

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Source: HSJ, 2 February 2022