A NURSE has said she is devastated to be 'putting her health before her job' as she risks the sack after refusing to have a Covid jab.

Sue Linda says she is one of those "willing to stand up" to the government's mandatory vaccine rules.

NHS workers face the sack if they don't have a first coronavirus vaccine before February 1 - although there have been some suggestions they may end up being redeployed to other roles.

Miss Linda, whose work as a community nurse for Worcestershire Health and Care Trust which involves visiting people's homes in the county, said: "I'm not an anti-vaxxer - I have had all my vaccines for childhood disease, and I used to administer vaccines.

"But I'm very cautious with my own health. I believe in freedom of choice.

"As a nurse we follow a code of conduct, and people have to consent to any treatment - it has to be informed consent.

"How can you have informed consent when we don't know all the facts."

The 57-year-old from Ombersley said she was "devastated" as she understands it is likely to be mandated that she is double jabbed before March 31.

"I love my job, I love the patients, I worked really hard, years of training," Miss Linda said.

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"I'm devastated I am going to lose my job, but I'd rather lose my job and keep my health, than have the jab.

"Other NHS workers agree, we are supporting each other. We are going to lose all that experience, the effect will be dire on the health service."

The NHS says vaccines are safe saying: "The Covid-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said it wouldn't comment on individual cases, but added: “NHS and care staff do amazing work and we are thankful to those who have chosen to get the vaccine.

“Vaccinations remain our best defence against Covid. This is about patient safety and ensuring we are doing everything we can to reduce risk for vulnerable people.

"There are no plans to change the implementation dates.”

Worcestershire Health and Care Trust were asked for comment.