OXFORDSHIRE will be part of a NHS pilot project aimed at increasing uptake of immunisations among children under the age of five.

The Thames Valley area has been identified by NHS England leaders as having a number of areas of low uptake with health bosses looking to improve their understanding of why and how it can be improved.

According to the latest statistics Oxfordshire is currently missing NHS targets for the MMR, and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough) booster vaccinations, however the area remains above the national average.

Launched this month the project will be led by South Central West's Child Health Information Service (SCW CHIS) and work with GP practices across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The project will look to see if low take up of immunisations is down to poor data or recrod keeping or if more can be done to encourage parents to get their child's vaccinations up to date.

SCW CHIS director, Sue Trinder, said: “The team will be looking at GP surgery data carefully to try and find out why there might be a lower uptake of vaccinations in some areas than others.

"This will mean working with GP surgeries to encourage best practice around childhood immunisation and reaching out to parents to remind them of the importance for their child’s health in getting them protected.”