Clinic staff help to make flu jabs fun

ALL dressed up, from the left, Dianne Davis, practice nurse, Holly Whitehead, Lexi Ogden, both receptionists, Olivia Smith, health care assistant, Gill Tandy, medical practice administrator, with Kim Dean and her daughter Lacy Millership (aged 2)

CHILDREN were given free flu jabs in an extraordinary fashion at the weekend as nurses donned their fancy dress costumes.

In efforts to make flu jabs fun, staff at Royton Medical Centre arrived for work in a range of outfits, including Big Bird from children's television show Sesame Street.

Superwoman, a dinosaur, a pirate and a sumo wrestler also featured in the line-up while registered patients queued for their jabs.

Youngsters were also treated to a variety of activities and toys, including a bubble machine, disco ball, picture books and crayons.

Practice administrator Gill Tandy, who dressed in a sumo outfit, said: "Kids get bored and fed up sat waiting for their appointments.

"We decided to hold a clinic on a Saturday morning and make it a bit more fun.

"They loved it.

"They were so shocked because it was so different from what they were used to.

"A lot of the children wanted to stay even after their jabs were done.

"We hope it will become an annual event."

Toys were laid out in the waiting room for eligible youngsters to interact with at the clinic on Saturday between 9am and 2pm.

The organised event was held for the first time last year in efforts to encourage Oldhamers with conditions such as asthma or diabetes to get protected against flu.