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.

can't she look it up on her trust's website?

There doesn't seem to be any particular protocol to follow. When she initially contacted the relevant people last week the message that came across without saying as much was - come in if you feel up to it. The next message was "Should you have a negative test in the morning then come in." This was Day 2 of having covid!

But several people have said their Trust expects them to go to work on the labour wards even if positive, so the OPs daughter is quite understandably querying what the policy is.

OP, to be on the safe side, she should phone in sick today and then clarify ASAP. If the policy is that she should work then she should go back in tomorrow. I'm.not saying I agree with that policy, but she needs to abide by her Trusts rules.

well she cant go in by the sounds of it

There will be a trust on call infection control nurse. Ring and ask the current policy and follow it. Nhs trusts frequently change guidelines .

It depends on the covid protocol in her area. In ours it is 5 days then back regardless of a positive test, if you’re feeling well. Luckily I’m in an outsourced part and our manager is happy for us to stop visits until a negative test. I visit very elderly and venerable people.

Im Immunosuppressed so I get the worry.

@Perfectpeonies @Mummyme87 you are confusingPCR tests with lateral flow tests. If you are positive on a lateral flow, you are very likely still contagious. Which is why the 5 day rule is nonsense. You should isolate as long as you are positive.

Rarely, you can test positive on PCRs for a few weeks/months after infection because they are much more sensitive.

She did get in touch with the relevant people and ask what she should do, i.e what is the policy to follow. They then said stay away today but if you test negative tomorrow then you're fine to come in. No further advice.

You can test positive for a while and no longer be contagious. Usually once you’ve reached the 10 day point you’re expected in work because you are not considered a risk. I certainly wouldn’t entertain going in within the first few days tho.

No. Hence my question on here.

I'm baffled that this is even a question. "Can my daughter who has a highly infectious and life threatening virus handle newborn babies and just not tell the mums?" Abhorrent. Fuck policies. Fuck what the trust says. Use decent morals. Stay away from vulnerable babies while infectious.

All heath and social care providers are gradually moving away from isolating staff who are clinically well/asymptomatic as it’s just not sustainable to keep isolating (and not necessary). With every contagious illness, if you are asymptomatic you are unlikely to know you even have it. If you are asymptotic, you are unlikely to spread it if you follow infection control guidance eg hand washing, using PPE etc.

the reality is that all patients/service users will come into contact with staff who are carrying various bugs and viruses but are unaware they are (as they are not unwell). It was the same pre-covid. We need to get used to the “new normal” and act sensibly or we will never get health and social care services back on track.

that said - she must find out and follow the policy of her team/unit/trust. She should have found this out the minute she tested positive - she will be assessed on placement for professionalism as well as her clinical skills and failure to adhere to policy could result in a failed placement. No point in phoning a hospital as policies may differ in the hospital versus community setting.

if I was her practice supervisor/assessor (mentor) I would be asking her to reflect on why she left it to the last minute to find out and what she had learned from this situation.

yes, i think 10 days is ok
the dentist was quite happy to see dh 10 days after testing positive, no worry about testing negative.

Or a tutor for a more definitive policy

She doesn't think it's ok and is erring on the side of caution.

Is she coughing, sneezing etc or fine?

Exactly right.

So she asked, and was told. Positive test = stay away.

What is the issue. If yore in a burning building you get out, you don’t check the guidelines with the fire department in case the advice has changed since the last time you asked.

She's still coughing and has a sore throat. Also feeling very fatigued, but obviously can battle through that one.

Your, not yore, I don’t know why I went all yokel.

If I were her and feeling well I would be outside work at 9am then call and ask if she should come in or not. She is just outside if expected and not put anyone at risk if not.

contact infection control or occupational health or look at the trust policies. She really needed to do that before the bank holiday though!

My work allows 5 days off for covid whether you stop testing positive or not.

I work with vulnerable teens but they’re vaccinated and older.

As she is feeling poorly too then I would not risk it.
It perhaps would be different if she had been testing positive for a couple of weeks but felt absolutely fine.

If she's still coughing and feeling unwell then she shouldn't go

Absolutely not. Its one thing not knowing but she does. She has responsibilities for vulnerable newborns and mums. It would be extremely selfish of her if she went to work.