NGH appoints two specialist vaccination nurses to support pregnant mums and new babies

With over 25 years’ experience between them in community nursing, schools and clinics, Julie Cowan and Gillian Thomason aim to provide a one-stop support service at NGH by providing whooping cough and flu vaccinations to pregnant women.

The two nurses are each working four days each per week and the service will be automatically given to expectant mums following their 20-week scan.

With these services normally accessed through GP practices, this end-to-end care at NGH will prevent missed appointments and keep vaccination rates high.

Nurse, Gillian Thomason, said: “It is well known that vaccinations have one of the greatest impacts on public health, preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

"We are delighted to be able to offer this service directly to pregnant mums and new babies in this way, and look forward to being an integral part of the maternity and midwife service here at NGH.”

Additionally, new babies identified as at high risk of exposure to TB – approximately 80 per month – will also be offered a BCG vaccination at birth.

The risk assessment is carried out using Public Health England’s advice on countries where the incidence of TB is higher than 40 per 100,000 to which the babies may visit or receive visits from during their first few months of life.

NGH will be celebrating the International Day of the Midwife next week on Friday, May 5, with an event at the Cripps Centre, showcasing a number of services from 9am to 3pm.