THOUSANDS of pensioners in Swindon failed to get life-saving flu jabs, it has been revealed.

More than 7,500 town OAPs missed out on the vaccinations this winter almost 30 per cent of elderly residents according to the Department of Health.

A total of 18,881 over-65s did have the protective jabs.

The statistics were published in a report to Health Secretary John Reid on how the NHS coped during the winter.

Emergency care tsar Sir George Alberti compiled the report, which showed 71 per cent of pensioners had flu inoculations in Swindon Primary Care Trust the same figure as the national average.

In Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT the take-up was lower, with 68 per cent of pensioners getting jabs.

This came despite a DoH campaign fronted by former heavyweight boxer Sir Henry Cooper hammering home the message jabs could save lives if Britain was hit by a spell of freezing weather.

Nationally, the take-up rate was 71 per cent described by Sir George as the most successful ever.

He claimed this led to flu levels being below usual seasonal levels and helped avert a winter crisis.

Sir George said increased investment and extra beds had enabled the NHS to cope with temporary surges in demand.

He also praised better collaboration between the NHS and social services

"It is due to good planning, getting new systems in place," he said. "There won't be the panics we have had in the past, with or without epidemics."