Nursing in Practice Podcast: The ‘phenomenal role’ nurses played during Kent’s meningitis outbreak

The latest episode of the Nursing in Practice Podcast explores the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent and the role played by nurses in the local and surrounding areas.

Editor Megan Ford and senior reporter Gee Harland open the episode by recapping the meningococcal outbreak which took place in early March.

Together, they unpack how the outbreak began and the initial response, before introducing several members of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) to explain how nurses and other healthcare professionals managed the outbreak.

Julie Yates, deputy director for immunisation programmes in UKHSA, highlights the ‘phenomenal role’ played by nurses in the antibiotic hubs, vaccination centres and behind the scenes.

She’s joined by Louise King, an immunisation lead nurse for KCHFT, who speaks in-depth about her experience in the vaccination centre and the ‘complete collaborative effort’ of over 180 healthcare staff.

As part of the episode, we also discuss early findings of our upcoming general practice nurse pay report. The full results be uncovered at our Nursing in Practice London event, taking place on 30 April. Megan, as well as the Royal College of Nursing’s chief executive Nicola Ranger, will be speaking about the report and related issues at the event.

This episode follows the February edition of the podcast which focused on recent developments in vaccination programmes and respiratory health, and what the recent changes mean for nurses working in primary care and the community.

The Nursing in Practice Podcast is hosted on Buzzsprout and can be accessed via Spotify and Apple Music.

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