Thread by @Jeremy_Hunt

I understand the practical reasons why we have abandoned mandatory vaccinations but think the U-turn is completely wrong. Here's why…

I was intending to introduce mandatory flu vaccinations in my final year as Health Secretary before I was moved to another role.

I considered the issue carefully, with all the sensitivities involved, but concluded it was non-negotiable that staff working with highly vulnerable people should do everything possible to protect them against asymptomatic disease. If that isn't 'do no harm' what is?

So I supported the govt when they announced this. And they won the argument: most NHS leaders say this was right but they needed the gov to take a lead. They worked so hard to deliver it. But having marched people to the top of the hill we now have the worst of all worlds.

Who will now believe the govt next time it tries to do the right thing? What happens if we get a more dangerous variant than omicron? Staff who reluctantly got jabbed to keep their job will feel cheated, & staff who held out will feel vindicated that the Govt can’t be trusted.

I do concede the practical arguments about workforce shortages are compelling - some predicted entire maternity units could be put at risk - but the solution is not a u-turn on an important safety matter of principle but finally gripping the workforce crisis once and for all.

If workforce shortages are so bad that we have to undermine the Secretary of State’s word with a u-turn, where’s the long-promised workforce plan? Where’s the backlog workforce strategy? Why did the Govt vote down a plan for independent forecasts to help workforce planning?

Let’s hope this decision is a sign the Govt has finally woken up to the scale of the staffing crisis, and will publish a serious workforce plan with long-term independent forecasts on workforce planning and a plan to train, recruit and retain ASAP.