Darent Valley Hospital staff waiting for news on arrival of vaccine doses weeks after NHS England told them to be ready
17:25, 18 December 2020
updated: 17:50, 18 December 2020
Anxious hospital workers say a lack of news from NHS chiefs and the government about the delayed arrival of vaccine doses is adding to staff stress.
The wait for the vaccine at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford has been made worse after trust chiefs were originally told by NHS England last month they would be one of the first to receive supplies of the Pfizer jab.
Questions have been raised about the lack of information staff have been given and frustration at a lack of answers from trust chiefs and the NHS at a national level.
Earlier this week, the leader of Gravesham council urged the NHS and Department for Health to allow senior medical officials to break the silence and reveal the true scale of pressure the county's health system is facing.
Cllr John Burden (Lab) said it was vital to ensure people understand the desperate need to follow the rules put in place.
KentOnline has been contacted this week by worried staff who feel that as yet unexplained reasons for the delay in the arrival of the vaccine is taking its toll on staff morale.
The staff member, who we have agreed to keep anonymous, said colleagues "understand it (the vaccine roll out) is a slow process".
But they added: "Having been on the original list, then dropped with no reason given, it seems very strange that local GP surgeries are in receipt of the vaccine yet we have no idea when we will get it.
"All we are told is that we are due to get it in the next few weeks, but in the same breath they will be sending "high risk" staff to these surgeries to get vaccinated. Now, if as a hospital we are unable to get the vaccine what hope do we have?"
The worker added a daily update from trust chiefs meant they had been kept "fairly well informed" about the latest procedures and information.
"But there is clearly a reason why we haven't got it yet - if it was just down to supply issues why not just say that," the staff member said.
"I love working here, and am proud of the job that we have done and continue to do.
"However for me the question has to be asked why have we not received the vaccine yet, when we are being told that we are ready to go and have been since the end of last month?
"I would also state that it makes me so sad when I see the figures in the area consistently going up - me and a lot of people have sacrificed so much this year, for it to be wasted by people who are either ignorant of the rules or just plain don't care about them."
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT), which runs Darent Valley, was initially included on a list of 53 hospital vaccination hubs in a letter sent by NHS England chiefs to trust bosses and clinical leaders across the country.
But in early December, this was cut to 50 trusts with both DGT and neighbouring Medway excluded.
NHS England has not explained when asked by KentOnline for the reason.
Medway Maritime Hospital was approved by the NHS last week and started issuing vaccines yesterday but Darent Valley is still waiting.
KentOnline understands an announcement about the vaccination programme for Darent Valley could come early next week.
But the hospital worker told this website, the lack of news and strain of 2020 was taking its toll on the mental health of staff.
"In terms of staff morale, I think it is much the same as across the NHS - people are tired and under a considerable amount of stress given that here has been no real "lull" since March.
"My personal mental health has been destroyed in the last few weeks, to the point where I am seeking help for it.
"It has been a very long year, and whilst we have been encouraged to take leave in the past it is not always easy, especially when departments are down on staff due to isolation/sickness.
"We are all being tested twice a week which is a huge positive but obviously we have a duty to provide a service to our local community no matter what is going on, and the people here would run through brick walls to do that."
DVH has been operating a full capacity for several weeks and is said to be "creaking at the seams" especially with the knock-on effect of dealing with an overspill from Medway hospital, which is one of the most under-pressure hospitals in the entire country.
"We are having to take some of their patients to help them cope, and the continuation of non-urgent services is definitely increasing the pressure.
"Whilst I understand that it is necessary to avoid adding to the backlogs that are already there, I think in general we are doing a fabulous job even if the public can't really see that."
