Karen Howell, Chief Executive of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, writes for Globe.

AT Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, we are really excited to be working with a number of secondary schools to pilot a new way for parents and carers to consent to their child's school-aged immunisations.

The new electronic consent (e-consent) process is easy, secure and convenient.

The digital process will enable parents and carers of pupils in year eight and nine at the pilot schools to give consent for their child's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine online, using our e-consent form instead of the paper form which is usually sent home from school.

The HPV vaccine, which is offered to all boys and girls aged 12 to 13 in two doses, is effective at stopping people getting the high-risk types of HPV that cause cancer, including most cervical cancers and some anal, genital, mouth and throat cancers.

For young people to be properly protected it's important they have both doses.

You can find out more information about the HPV vaccine by visiting our website - www.wchc.nhs.uk/econsent.

So, what are the benefits of moving to e-consent forms?

Our secure and simple to use e-consent form makes the process of giving consent much easier and quicker for parents, carers and schools.

Parents and carers can now submit their child's form with the click of a button using their mobile phone, tablet, laptop or computer.

Schools will no longer have to distribute paper copies of the consent forms to all of their pupils.

This new approach also supports our Trust's environmental sustainability plans; we'll be saving on paper and print costs and our school nurses will be travelling less, as they won't have to distribute or collect the paper consent forms to and from schools.

As part of our development work for this project we've engaged with local parents and carers to determine the most effective ways to let people know about the new process.

Following the pilot project we’ll be launching an 'e-consent - it's that easy' campaign, which will include social media advertisements, posters and face-to-face engagement via our 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service.

Keep an eye out for our campaign.

If your child’s secondary school is taking part in our pilot e-consent project you will receive an email or text from school with a link to the e-consent form.

Remember, the new e-consent process is easy, secure and convenient.

Following the success of the pilot project all parents and carers throughout Wirral will use e-consent forms for all school-aged immunisations including, Flu and DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio).

This is part of our Trust’s digital development agenda, enabling people to have easier and greener access to services, reduce paperwork and look after our environment.

Finally, as coronavirus continues to be of concern, I want to reassure residents that appointments should be attended as normal at all community clinics and at the hospital.

The best way to protect yourself and others is through good hand hygiene.

Follow these steps to reduce your risk:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • Always wash your hands when you get home or into work 
  • Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available 
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
  • Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Search ‘NHScoronavirus’ on-line for the latest updates