STAFF at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - Gwent's biggest single employer - are being urged to have a flu vaccination to minimise the risk of passing the virus on to the patients they care for.

The call has come from health board chiefs as the autumn flu jab season kicks into gear, as part of a drive to improve on what overall last year were among the best vaccination rates in Wales.

A Public Health Wales report indicates that last year, uptake of the flu vaccination among people aged 65 or over in Gwent was 70.4 per cent, the second highest rate among Wales' health boards areas.

And among under 65s and people in 'at risk' groups, such as those who suffer from long term heart and respiratory conditions, uptake in Gwent last year was 53.5 per cent, the highest in Wales.

GP surgeries and health centres are beginning to run clinics for those eligible to receive this year's flu vaccine on the NHS, a process that will continue for the rest of 2014 and into next year.

As well as chronic heart and respiratory conditions, other 'at risk' factors that make under-65s eligible are: long term kidney or liver disease; chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease; diabetes; spleen problems; a weakened immune system due to conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or as a result of medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy.

Pregnant women are also eligible, as are: people in long-stay residential care or another long-stay care facility; those receiving a carer's allowance or who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if that carer falls ill; healthcare workers with direct patient contact; some care workers.

The health board in Gwent employs more than 12,500 staff, the vast majority of whom are engaged in contact with patients, and chairman David Jenkins said he urged all of them to be vaccinated.

"We have significantly improved the vaccination rate in the community, and would hope you as staff would show a lead to others, and so that those of you in daily contact with patients are not putting anyone at risk," he said.

Public health director Dr Gill Richardson agreed, calling it "a duty of care issue."