I RECENTLY asked some doctors what key medical actions can help reduce the numbers of people who may need hospital care in the winter.

Flu vaccination is the stand out action that keeps more people well I was informed.

The Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is under tremendous pressure to provide excellent patient care through the winter months when it is known the numbers of people catching flu will rise and that people with long term ill health can become very ill if they catch flu. The flu immunisation programme is the responsibility of NHS England’s Greater Manchester and Lancashire team. The immunisation programme is delivered by GP practices in Bolton. There is a support role by the public health service of Bolton Council.

There are around 74% of people aged over 65 years in Bolton who take up having a flu vaccination. This is quite good but a quarter of our citizens in this age group are not having or able to obtain a flu vaccination. But what has struck me more is the rate of flu vaccination in people who are under 65 years of age but who are eligible for a flu vaccine because they are more prone to catching flu due to disability or chronic illness. Only 54% of people who could be really helped by flu vaccination who are under 65 years of age in Bolton are getting a vaccination and the health protection the NHS wants to provide for them. Flu vaccination rates vary between GP practice populations in Bolton and this creates inequality in flu protection between different groups of citizens in Bolton. Through our families, community groups, work and leisure we can support more people who may want annual flu vaccines get them and GP practices to deliver more of them to their patients.

Cllr Sue Haworth

Harper Green ward