Hunter New England Health reveal some hospital staff may lose their job after refusing vaccination

September 30 was the deadline to get the jab, and Hunter New England Health (HNEH) has revealed a 'small minority' of eligible workers in the local health district have declined to do so.

Around 99 per cent have rolled up their sleeves though, better than the statewide figure of 94 per cent.

HNEH declined to reveal whether any Tamworth staff were among those who will be stood down from tomorrow.

"The district has been working closely with staff who are yet to be vaccinated to ensure they have the information they need to make their decision," a spokesperson said.

"While the vast majority of staff have embraced vaccination, unfortunately a very small minority have indicated they do not wish to be vaccinated.

"We will work with these staff up to the last minute to encourage them to start their vaccination."

Given how detrimental and common staff shortages are in regional areas, plans have been put in place to avoid additional workloads being placed on the remaining staff.

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"If staff choose to remain unvaccinated and vacate their role, then we will prioritise recruitment action to that vacancy," a HNEH spokesperson said.

"We have closely managed this process to ensure every facility and service has the right number of staff to continue uninterrupted patient care from 30 September."

HNEH said workers have been given an adequate amount of time to receive their jabs, as they have had been prioritised since the rollout began in March 2021.

"From the beginning of the federal government's vaccination rollout in March 2021, healthcare workers have had priority access above others, together with their families and household contacts," the spokesperson said.

In the district, more than 92 per cent of staff have been fully vaccinated. That puts it ahead of the average for rural and regional NSW, where 84 per cent had received both doses as of Tuesday.

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