A HAMPSHIRE respite care provider has branded enforced Covid-19 vaccinations on staff “a breach of human rights”.

Revitalise, a respite care break provider in Netley, has hit out at the government after Health Secretary, Matt Hancock announced yesterday that vaccinations for care home staff would become compulsory.

The charity argues that the move is “purely political” and a “consequence of the impending Covid review”, adding that it is “both an invasion of staff privacy and a breach of human rights”.

It also says that the PPE currently in place for staff to wear is sufficient and that there is now a worry that some staff may resign if mandatory jabs are brought in.

Revitalise CEO, Jan Tregelles, said: “When the pandemic started, Revitalise took legal advice to know what our employment rights are and the biggest issue is around the human rights for individuals to choose their own invasive healthcare treatments.

“It’s clear the Government’s stance on this is completely political and a nod to the impending review of the COVID-19 outbreak. Around 30 per cent of our workers are not vaccinated and around 20 per cent are not doing so for personal reasons.

“Therefore if the vaccine were to be mandated, we would expect a mass resignation. The PPE diligently worn by our teams every day is perfectly sufficient and is not an invasion of privacy.”

The charity has been operating in the area for 57 years and is said to be a “vital lifeline” to unpaid home carers and their disabled family members.

This comes after the charity hit out at the government last year when a 14-day isolation period was implemented for anyone entering a care setting.

After the announcement was made in parliament though, Matt Hancock, said: “after careful consultation we’ve decided to take this proposal forward to protect residents”.

He said a consultation will be had on the same approach in the NHS “to save lives and protect patients from disease”and speaking in the Commons, he added: “The vast majority of staff in care homes are already vaccinated but not all, and we know that the vaccine not only protects you but protects those around you.

“Therefore we will be taking forward the measures to ensure the mandation as a condition of deployment for staff in care homes.”

The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment but it was unable to respond before the Echo went to press.