NHS and self isolating

[ghostmous3]

I work in the nhs..just had the job about 3 months

My question is this.. if anyone can help

Say one of my dc had symptoms of covid..we all have to self isolate. If dc test came back negative would we all still have to self isolate for the 14 days..or could we go back to work..and because dc say was negative would that then go against me on my sickness record. I've already been off sick with a stomach bug I caught from a patient and I've already been warned..

I'm a bit worried obviously. I will of course self isolate if this situation arises but I also dont want to lose my job!

You have to self isolate if one of your family has symptoms until you have the results back - if they are negative then you can go straight back to work. If positive then it is 14 days. I'm not sure about the sickness record, but presumably they wouldn't expect you to go into work in those circumstances?

It's the sickness bit between self isolating and the negative test that worries me.

I've been told that will go against me on my sickness record..because the test would have been negative..a colleague of mine had the same so I'm worried myself now

If you have the symptoms to warrant a test, then you need to self isolate as per the government guidelines until the test is back - you don't have a crystal ball to know if the test will be positive or negative! You don't want to risk passing on the virus to vulnerable patients (as you may be asymptomatic if DC is positive) I'd probably speak to your manager and find out what they suggest in your circumstances.

Nope can't be counted as a "sickness" can be recorded as an absence but it's covid related therefore not a true sickness. At least this is how it works in my work

Contact your occupational health department, they will confirm what you need to do.

I will. If dc is positive then I'd be self isolating without a doubt..its not that bit I'm worried about.
It's literally the bit between dc displaying symptoms, going for a test then testing negative..I've been told if dcis negative then that will go against me..as I could have been in work.

I will clarify this in work tomorrow if poss then go and speak to a union rep.

Our trust is not counting any covid related absence as part of the sickness record so I would check that with your line manager.

If the person with symptoms has a negative covid result then you can go back to work.

Our trust has told us that we MUST isolate when necessary, and that it counts as "special Covid leave", and does not contribute to usual sickness record.

Where i am being off on cases like that would be down as 'special leave' so not counted towards your sickness. But you could always ask your manager or phone hr. You won't lose your job for being off unless there were other concerns about your work etc. Most important if to keep in touch with your work if you need to be off ie give them as much notice as possible, phone them as soon as you have a result etc. You aren't the only one with this worry at the min op so dont worry!

I'll try occie health then.

My dept makes it up as they go along..

Unfortunately I am neither a nurse nor a doctor, or admin or medical staff..its a fight to get ppe for us

I dont think you've been told correctly.

You CANNOT go into work, whilst waiting for a test result doesn't matter whether the test comes back negative you still couldn't have been at work as the law is you self isolate until the test shows negative.

Get clarification fromocc health to put your mind at rest x

To clarify, in my board it would be special leave regardless of whether the test was positive or negative. Depending on your shifts, you could always try and make up the time you missed eg if you were ment to work Mon Tues wed but had to be off Wed while you wait for a test, you could offer to work Friday if the result is negative. But they can't force you to do that.

If the test is negative you can go back to work.

At my NHS trust the isolation doesn't go as sick. I think it's put down as 'not fit for work' or 'enforced absence' or something like that.

Thanks everyone I'll ask occupational health tomorrow.
It's a real worry for me as the department I work in are not very understanding.

Where I work it doesn't count as sickness but as a form of special leave. I was off in May and none of that counted even though I tested negative. My GP said it was suspected Covid.

Most NHS trusts have staff and family Covid test turnarounds of less than 12 hours, to avoid absence. Find out where you get this.

They can't say that's a sickness absence with everything going on. If they did I'd dispute it as you're following the law and they should know better.

I'm not nursing or doctor staff. In fact I'm the lowest paid there..well my job is..so I cant see me getting the quick tests somehow..we are a bit neglected when it comes to perks like that..couldnt even get my flu jab