Last year, flu sadly claimed around 8,000 lives in England, but vaccination prevented an estimated 96,000–120,000 hospitalisations. Despite this, fewer than 38% of NHS staff received the flu vaccine.
If you’re an NHS worker, getting your annual flu jab helps protect yourself, your colleagues, and the vulnerable patients in your care. Even if you are young and healthy, you can still catch flu and pass it on — often before you notice any symptoms. This can put patients, immunocompromised colleagues, and pregnant staff at serious risk.
How to get your flu vaccine:
There will also be drop-in clinics and roving vaccinators across NHS sites. Keep an eye on the Intranet for details.
Let’s work together to protect patients, support colleagues, and stay healthy this winter. Make sure you get your flu vaccine.
From 5 January 2026, CNTW is relaunching its Smokefree Policy, supporting healthier, safer environments for patients, staff and visitors.
People who use mental health services are more likely to smoke and experience smoking-related illness. Supporting people to stop smoking is a key part of compassionate, holistic care. This relaunch focuses on support, consistency and kindness, not enforcement alone.
Smoking or using tobacco products is not permitted on any CNTW site.
Smoking indoors is against the law.
Staff must not escort service users to smoke.
Smoking materials must be removed on admission and not returned during leave.
Staff are expected to support the policy respectfully and consistently.
On-site tobacco dependence treatment, including vapes or NRT, within 30 minutes of admission.
Advice from trained staff and clear patient information.
Community support via NHS Better Health or smokefreecommunity@cntw.nhs.uk
Staff support available at quitteam@cntw.nhs.uk including a free refillable vape.
See Intranet for more information.