Dd shouldn't go to work as a student midwife today??

[GracieGracieGracie]

Positive covid test last week and still positive this morning. She's due to be doing visits today and really doesn't want to lose her hours, but she's going to be handling newborns so that's a no-go isn't it?

She can't get hold of anyone until 9am to check.

@Allnightlong2016

For everyone saying why doesn’t she know what to do by now the government guidance for health and social care changed a few weeks ago

She tested positive last week. That was her cue to find out.

This is not for anybody on MN to decide. She just needs to follow her workplace policy. If she is due in before 9am is there not a colleague she can phone to check with?

I wouldn't want someone handling my newborn with any other illness either.

My trust's policy since last week is that you need to go in unless you're too ill to work, but if you feel ok you attend.

I've asked about duty of candour and responsibility to patients but was told that we can disclose if we want but our patient's are not entitled to our private medical details.

It doesn't seem right but she won't be automatically told to stay off.

It would be a no in my hospital. It's not just the newborns. If she's in the community, her mentor is going to be stuck in a car with her!

As others have said. Its slightly concerning that a person in her position doesn't know the rules and thinks it's ok.

My trust would not allow her in.

In many trusts it is okay to go in and work, even when testing positive.

Of course I have read the posts above. It is very straightforward to make a moral decision. There is no way that I would take my COVID self to a work placement where I know that I will be up close to newborns and their families. Maybe I am a rebel completely unto myself but there's just no way, policies or not.

@Qilin and that's fine but she tested positive a week ago and had a week to find out what the policy at her placement is. It's not ok to just go in because that's what other trusts are doing. Maybe her trust is like @Toddlerteaplease 's and wouldn't let her in with a positive test

This

Why doesn’t she just call one of the wards to her hospital, someone will know what the policy is.

Also her testing positive a week later is irrelevant when you can test positive for weeks on end after having covid. You can be testing negative a couple of days in, doesn’t mean it’s not contagious

Not a rebel @Dontcareforthehaters but a sensible person who takes responsibility
Policy or not she shouldn't go in
I too am aghast that people think it's OK. Anything contagious stay at home

If she’s not symptomatic it’s likely she can go in.

Those saying she can ‘catch up’ her hours, have you seen the expectations of Student Midwives? 2400 (unpaid hours) on top of a full time degree. Catching up is not easy, and if you don’t have enough hours by the end of the academic year you are held back an entire year.

OF COURSE SHE SHOULD NOT GO IN

Also this. Which is why guidelines are changing to ‘symptomatic’ rather than positive test

From the sound of it we're living with it now, just like the common cold. If you feel OK in yourself you go to work.

Can she contact another student to check on policy?

she might not be contagious
however she is old enough to do her own research/ask her trust.
no poll needed

My SILs two day old baby tested positive for Covid (tested as he had very high temp they couldn't bring down). He was in NICU on IV antibiotics for a week and almost died. This was a month ago, thankfully baby is home and well now.
The thought of a midwife with covid knowingly handling newborns is awful. Particularly if this is now policy!

Surely your daughter checked her trusts requirements when she first tested positive last week? Not knowing last week when she first tested is understandable, but not finding out since then is less so.

It doesn't seem as though this person has any idea about their trust's policy despite testing positive last week, this in itself is concerning.

Oh didn't realise about the pay, off she goes then, into work, don't worry about exposing yourself to some incredibly vulnerable people, I'm sure that they will all cope just fine.

i am surprised there is noone she can get hold of until 9
how many days is she?
isnt it 5 days post test?
she will do what she will do

Well, as we are discovering, she doesn't know here own trust's policies.....

All these Trusts that allow/require staff to go to work when testing positive is why we REALLY need 100% masking in healthcare settings. Ideally N95 masks especially if you know you are sick.

It's abhorrent that healthcare providers, who have a duty of care to patients, can knowingly go into work sick and infect everyone. Hospital-acquired COVID infection rates in England and Wales have been around 30% and 10% of those who catch COVID in hospital die. This is absolutely insane. Hospitals are supposed to be safe spaces.

Please sign this petition for masking in healthcare if you agree: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636380