Scores of staff at hospitals serving Hartlepool have no virus jab

Latest NHS England figures show that, of the 5,778 health care workers at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, 5,504 (95.3%) had received their first dose of the vaccine by the end of September – meaning 274 workers are still unvaccinated.

The figures also show 92.1% of staff had received both doses.

Nationally, 110,000 health care workers not vaccinated.

Around 92.4% of staff have had at least one dose, and 89% both.

The Royal College of GPs has strongly urged all health and care professionals to be vaccinated, saying it will help protect them, their colleagues and their patients from contracting Covid-19.

However, Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: "Whilst we understand the desire of some people to make vaccination mandatory, we don’t agree with it as informed and educated choices about health interventions would be more beneficial long-term than enforcing them, which risks leading to resentment and mistrust."

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: "Making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for frontline workers could have its advantages in the NHS but the Government needs to carry out a full risk assessment to ensure there was no adverse impact on staff retention and recruitment at a time when the NHS is facing a significant increase in demand for its services.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We are continuing to encourage the small minority of NHS staff who have not yet been jabbed to consider getting vaccinated to protect both themselves and patients.”