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Original poster

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

138 replies

GracieGracieGracie · 01/05/2023 07:43

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.

OP posts:
3FriendsAndADog · 01/05/2023 09:40

LittleBearPad · 01/05/2023 09:20

It’s vanishingly rare that newborns will die of covid.

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Is death the only criteria nowadays to establish if an illness is dangerous?

ClairDeLaLune · 01/05/2023 09:55

Of course she can’t. Worrying that this question is even being asked.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 01/05/2023 10:05

PentagonPogo · 01/05/2023 08:09

One that won't get paid for isolating. One that is following their trust's policies on Covid.

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She's a student, she doesn't get paid therefore she won't lose pay for isolating. Student finance doesn't get withheld either for a few days absence.

If she's not an essential member of staff, she shouldn't be going in.

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Families
Teateaandmoretea · 01/05/2023 10:07

Willmafrockfit · 01/05/2023 09:18

@Teateaandmoretea
i think its different where newborn babies are concerned. it should be different.

More than 50% of newborns live with a toddler daubing snot all over them. It’s amazing any of them survive tbh, particularly the bottle fed ones.

Motheranddaughter · 01/05/2023 10:10

She needs to check the covid protocol and follow that

Tiredmum100 · 01/05/2023 10:19

Her trust should have a policy in place. I'm a nurse and have tested positive to covid. I don't need to test but can return to work when I have no symptoms. This has only just been brought in. From the replies it looks like every trust is sightly different. Can she speak to the midwife she is working with for clarity of the trust policy and go from there?

pompomdaisy · 01/05/2023 10:22

Cue all the outrage coming from people that obviously don't have to work in the nhs! Or maybe even don't work at all!

user1497207191 · 01/05/2023 10:31

Throwncrumbs · 01/05/2023 07:53

If this was someone going on a flight everyone would say ‘you don’t have to test anymore so just go’ but apparently this is ‘no don’t go in’ ….babies go on flights too, vulnerable people go on flights as well. I’m just pointing out the double standards on here, which really pisses me off. Of course you don’t go into work/placement when you will be handling new born babies, don’t mingle with anyone else either, because where ever you go you will be near vulnerable people, new born or not!

There's a massive difference. Going on a plane is optional/voluntary, and those with babies or who are vulnerable have the choice not to go on a plane. The OP is talking about a completely different scenario where a covid positive person, in fact a health care professional, is coming into their home, potentially spreading the virus, and the mother won't have a choice! Can't you see the difference. I can't see any double standards at all.

My OH is ECV due to incurable cancer. We have made the "choice" not to go abroad again as we've decided airports, planes, etc are simply not safe enough. But he has NO choice to go to hospital for his infusions, consultations, blood tests, etc.

Hence, personally, we don't give a toss who goes on planes, whether they're covid positive or not, because we're not putting ourselves in that position of risk. However, we DO care about the healthcare professionals that OH has no choice but to come into close contact with due to his treatments, etc.

Surely you can see the difference?

WimbyAce · 01/05/2023 10:34

I am admin NHS and we have to wait for 2 negative tests. Depends on Trust policy I imagine but I wouldn't be happy if I had a newborn and someone knew they had covid handling them.

DanceBeneathADiamondSky · 01/05/2023 10:35

pompomdaisy · 01/05/2023 10:22

Cue all the outrage coming from people that obviously don't have to work in the nhs! Or maybe even don't work at all!

I am outraged but not at the NHS workers' behaviour. Just as I'm sure you expect me to be outraged at how terrible nurses are treated. I am. It is normal to find this pretty outrageous.

I work in a school and the sickness policy isn't great. They'd ask you to come back to work as soon as you feel alright even with norovirus. I think that's outrageous too

user1497207191 · 01/05/2023 10:38

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 01/05/2023 09:05

Gov guidelines changed at the end of March for NHS staff.
Treated like any other illness, we are no longer to test with symptoms.
if we feel well enough to work we have to go in unless working with immunocompromised patients.

introduced at our trust last week, can’t say I’m comfortable with it 🙁

Surely you don't know whether you're going to come into contact with immunocompromised patients?

What about "drop in" blood tests, x-ray/scan units, hospital pharmacies, etc. Immunocompromised patients don't go around with signs around their necks so nursing staff don't necessarily know who's compromised and who isn't.

When my OH goes for his chemo infusions, yes, the nurses in the treatment room obviously know their patients are immunocompromised (but don't wear masks anymore) so not sure what, if any, precautions they're taking now, but he had to have a blood test a couple of days beforehand, which is done in a general drop-in phlebotomy clinic, open to all! Likewise when they want him to go for skeletal x-rays and MRI scans - just the usual general dept seeing a full range of patients, and no obvious precautions by staff.

Booklover40 · 01/05/2023 10:39

Haven't we moved on from this now? People - even newborns - are not being shielded from covid anymore. We were told to get on with it quite a while ago now.

Why did your dd test OP?

bowzen · 01/05/2023 10:43

No she shouldn't with a positive result. There will definitely be a policy attached to the hospital....
Student placements plan for way over the hours you need to complete as they expect students will be off sick during that time. If she goes it, it could affect her placement mark - not following H&S procedures.... she needs to take the time off, fully recover. There is normally an opportunity to WFH if shes feeling fine, even if it's self directed study, then it won't affect placement hours

EpicDay · 01/05/2023 10:53

For everyone giving the OP a hard time: my DH is a teacher and has been told without question that a covid positive test is not a reason to stay home. No discussion whatsoever of contact with students, other vulnerable staff members etc etc. I was shocked by this but it is where we are.

TeenLifeMum · 01/05/2023 11:07

Our hospital protocol is don’t test and if you feel unwell then you stay home, if you feel fine then you go in, wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene and carry on.

caringcarer · 01/05/2023 11:40

It's worrying a student midwife can't use common sense and stay away from newborn babies with Covid.

Mummyme87 · 01/05/2023 12:13

@Willmafrockfit with newborns it isn’t different, it’s the same across the whole trust.

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 01/05/2023 15:37

user1497207191 · 01/05/2023 10:38

Surely you don't know whether you're going to come into contact with immunocompromised patients?

What about "drop in" blood tests, x-ray/scan units, hospital pharmacies, etc. Immunocompromised patients don't go around with signs around their necks so nursing staff don't necessarily know who's compromised and who isn't.

When my OH goes for his chemo infusions, yes, the nurses in the treatment room obviously know their patients are immunocompromised (but don't wear masks anymore) so not sure what, if any, precautions they're taking now, but he had to have a blood test a couple of days beforehand, which is done in a general drop-in phlebotomy clinic, open to all! Likewise when they want him to go for skeletal x-rays and MRI scans - just the usual general dept seeing a full range of patients, and no obvious precautions by staff.

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No you’re right we don’t.

I am not saying I agree with it as I don’t, there are also staff members who shielded during covid who will be expected to work with others with covid.

OhwhyOY · 01/05/2023 21:30

I can understand that COVID procedures are being normalised to align with those for other illnesses. Fine. But the issue is the OP says her daughter is still symptomatic, which means she is still contagious and likely to pass said illness on. Surely no HCP dealing with the clinically vulnerable should be going into work coughing all over the place? And if understaffing is so bad that trusts think this is the lesser evil, that's extremely worrying. If my newborn caught COVID from a midwife doing a home visit I would be extremely unhappy.

Twentyfirstcenturymumma · 02/05/2023 18:28

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 01/05/2023 07:51

It's really concerning that a student midwife is needing advice on this. Surely a woman in her position is clued up on covid protocol and if not, atleast has the common sense to make the right decision.
I'd be utterly FURIOUS if I found out she'd been in my house, holding my newborn knowingly positive for covid.

Absolutely this.

I teach student nurses and student midwives... this would be a serious disciplinary matter with placement area and relevant university involved.

I am appalled by your question and by your daughter's totally selfish attitude.
They cannit complete theur teaining without completing rewuired practice and theory hours, as she well knows.
Ways are always found for students to complete missed hours.
Is she on track to complete?

Has she got failed placement time to make up? Failed their assessments to submit. Really shocked by this.

Pregnant women as well as newborns at increased risk from covid.

Students rotate through all depts: antenatal clinics, wards, postnatal clinics/wards. As well as delivery room and labour wards.

Pebblebeach2 · 02/05/2023 18:41

I have recently trained in a similar profession. The placements are designed that if you complete them all you are way over your hours - eg: I needed 1000 hours to qualify and I completed 1200 placement hours. This is designed so that you would only need to complete around 80% of each placement in case things such as this arise. She shouldn’t lose any hours and even if she does unless she has regular episodes of absence, it really shouldn’t be an issue.

wiccamum · 02/05/2023 18:45

All Trusts my students work in have a “two negative tests” policy before they can return to work. We also ask students to complete covid risk assessments if they themselves might be considered vulnerable or high-risk. Absolutely agree with pp that this could be a fitness-to-practice issue if your daughter ignored this. There is time allocated within the curriculum for retrieval of clinical hours. She should be aware of this and her course leads will be aware.

azlazee1 · 02/05/2023 18:51

If she is testing positive, she is a danger to the Mother and the new born. I'm surprised someone with medical training wouldn't understand that.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 02/05/2023 21:03

If she thinks it’s ok to put babies at risk because she doesn’t want to lose her hours she’s in the wrong job. Tell her to be trainee politician instead.

AlinaRawlings · 02/05/2023 21:17

GracieGracieGracie · 01/05/2023 07:43

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.

Is she asymptomatic? If you have a cold with no symptoms then do you really have a cold? Would she go to work with a symptomatic cold? I treat covid like any other illness. If I’m too unwell to do it then I don’t do it, if I have symptoms but feel ok in myself then I go ahead and cough and splutter into tissues whilst saying “sorry I have a cold/covid”…..the same way I did before everybody lost their minds over a COLD.