'FLU is not just a heavy cold - it can be life-threatening', is the warning as new figures reveal how many frontline NHS staff have been vaccinated against it.

While Dorset HealthCare has one of the worst records in the country for the number of workers getting a flu jab to protect themselves and their patients, Dorset County Hospital is one of the best in England.

Public Health England statistics show that 2,364 of Dorset Healthcare University Trust's 4,760 frontline workers were vaccinated against flu by the end of December.

It means an uptake rate of just 49.7 per cent – well below the national average of 68.5 per cent.

Dawn Dawson, Dorset HealthCare’s director of Nursing, Therapies and Quality, said the trust takes flu 'very seriously.'

"It is a virus that can kill, and every year we work hard to encourage all of our staff to have the flu vaccination and ensure they protect our patients, themselves, and their families," she said.

"The preliminary vaccination numbers for this year are disappointing. However, the number of staff vaccinated is higher than in previous years – in 2017, our take-up figures stood at 34 per cent. To date, 53 per cent of our clinical, frontline staff have had the flu jab.

“Vaccinations are not mandatory and each member of staff may choose whether or not to take it up. We offer a range of information to encourage staff to get the jab and also various incentives. We run flu clinics across the county, accommodating staff that work out in the community or early and late shifts. Staff can also book an appointment through our occupational health service or a peer vaccinator at one of our community hospitals or mental health units across Dorset.”

“We continue to provide the vaccination to staff who have not had the jab yet, and are gathering information to help us boost take-up next winter.”

There was a much higher success rate at DCH, where 82 per cent of the trust's 2,035 frontline workers were vaccinated against flu by the end of December.

Director of Nursing and Quality at DCH, Nicky Lucey, said: “We are very proud of our staff at DCH who have done exceptionally well this year in exceeding the national targets.

“We have a number of measures in place to encourage staff to get their flu jabs. These include regular drop-in sessions throughout the trust and a team of dedicated peer vaccinators. We also introduced video messages to target the myths surrounding the flu vaccination as well as use of social media to encourage the uptake.

“It is so important for staff to be vaccinated as it protects them, their friends, family, colleagues and of course, our patients. Flu is not just a heavy cold, it can be life-threatening.”