NHS employee Covid policy

[TiddyTidTwo]

I work in the NHS, admin but contact with patients. I tested positive for covid last night. I feel rough and sent a pic of my test to my manager and called her this morning.

Oh I can still go in, all restrictions lifted apparently. I was shocked. I said I have symptoms, fever, coughing and sneezing. No I can still go in but perhaps put me in a separate room.

So, as I know it's a busy day, I drag myself in, masked up and put on warm clothing as no one will see me locked away. I get there, sweating and looking like death but I haven't got my "uniform" on. It's a nylon short sleeved shirt. I don't live near work but I either had to drive all the way home, put shirt on what no one will see, or go home unpaid (I've not been in the role 6 months yet)

I've applied for a new job today. Nhs management is so up it's own arse they'd rather put patients and Co workers at risk, then nit pick about a shirt and end up short staffed.

I assumed testing for full blown covid with symptoms I'd be told to stay away but not only did I have to go in, I was then subjected to that, all for minimum wage.

Shambles

You're not even supposed to test anymore.

Basically if you've got respiratory symptoms you can work if you feel well enough, but must wear a mask.

Don't work if you feel too unwell to work.

Why you turned up without your uniform is as perplexing as why you don't know basic policies in your work place.

I'm so glad this thread is attracting so many empathetic posters who understand this is a discussion board.

It's treated like any other illness now. If you feel well, go in, otherwise, stay home. The unpaid leave policy applies regardless of what you are sick with, and is pretty generous compared to many other employers.

It’s been this way for months and months. Doctors, nurses, midwives working with newborns, elderly, sick, patients in intensive care while positive for covid. 🤷‍♀️

But it’s not like the OP was even going to be at front of house, it’s not like she’s a police officer for example where uniform really does matter. The OP was going to be isolated away from everyone in a room where she wouldn’t be mixing with people! Come on! Really!

Sent home for not wearing a nylon shirt, a shirt which is often covered and not seen anyway! Seems like the Manager was on some sort of power trip and again, being an arse!

Why would you go into work without your uniform? Alone in an office or not.

You definitely get sick pay if you work for the NHS.

You just tell your manager you're too unwell to be at work if you're ill.

I'm the same, also tested positive, feel rubbish and work for the NHS. I've been on the sofa all day 🤷‍♀️

Thats not really the point is it ?
My dh works for a subsidiary of Tesco in a ware house ,he has to wear a uniform of a polo shirt and trousers and a Hi Vis, jacket and safety boots whilst the Hi vis,and safety boots are a,health and safety measure he could wear any top and trousers really ,but its part of the conditions of his employment. He wears the uniform provided his company because that's what you do when your employed

Because outside of corporate bullshit I mix with people who a vulnerable?

@x2boys I work frontline healthcare. F2f with patients. Always wear uniform except today when I would be isolated but only isolated because I questioned it.Tesco v cancer patients coming in for blood tests isn't the same

I know. I should wear that blouse even though no one would cross my path, because, rules

Im very aware of that I was replying to a previous poster
However the issues is you have uniform you are required to wear at work wether tha,s working for Tesco ,A GP, surgery or Gregg,s , its part of your terms of employment.

@x2boys but like I said before others don't wear it, put cardigans over and it's fine. So that point is mute, except for today apparently

Either you’re too sick to work or you’re fine to work and you need to do your full duties and wear your uniform. You’re not really doing them a favour by working whilst sick although quite unfairly you’re only entitled to ssp after 3 days. I don’t understand why you didn’t wear the uniform, if you have a fever surely you don’t want warmer clothing anyway?! Did you take your temperature? There’s no covid isolation now because people should be vaccinated and have access to antiviral medication. Lots of people have covid currently, I can almost guarantee you wouldn’t be the only one in the GP practice with it! Couldn’t you just have worn a mask to reduce the risk? Do they still have the glass screens up between reception and waiting room?

🤦‍♀️

Absolute bunch of bloody jobsworths on here!

I would prefer a member of staff to be working, isolated, where they won’t see or come into contact with anyone ALL DAY, than send them home for not wearing a poxy nylon shirt that NO-ONE would know she wasn’t wearing, as OP has explained these shirts are often obscured by other garments anyway!

It’s an absolute world gone bloody mad!

Covid or not, I'd not be going into work with a fever. I'd feel to unwell

Potentially someone who is ‘sweating and looking like death’ and who is unable to do
the face face to face job you employ them for isn’t going to be worth the wage you’re paying them though? I do think it’s very unfair that people feel they have to go to work whilst too unwell because they need the pay, there should be better support financially, but that’s a different issue

Jesus christ you are all that wrong with a huge part of the NHS. Where do you get off speaking to people like shit?

You are probably the type that sits in your office while the shit is hitting the fan. Most managers in the NHS have been clinicians that have been promoted and are not in the least qualified to actually manage as your post demonstrates in spades.

The official policy at my trust is if you test and you are positive you should stay off for five days However you do not have to test at all( or tell anyone I guess) and you can come in whatever if you feel ok to work. No rules on mask wearing if sick though some do. Counts as normal sickness for reviews/policy and has for ages. So people can’t be off every time they catch it. Wrong but true

There are places stricter such as oncology for example.

We still get 5 days special leave, inc non patient facing roles. That was changed recently to keep it equal across the roles. NHS Scotland

@BungleandGeorge I didn't need to be face to face. I could have worked, alone and saw no one and did a huge amount to help. But shirt despite me saying no one will see me. Rules, shirt. No common sense applied.

That's what I wanted to do. I'd rather be home but I knew how manic it was as I practically begged to let me stay and help as I'd driven there (I don't live close) I only could if I did another round trip to pita shirt on no one would see and I'd just put a jumper over.

Yep but as per previous posts my lovely colleague has a terminally ill son and I couldn't not test.

You’re in the right here, OP.

If I needed to contact my GP surgery, or walk into the building, I wouldn’t be aghast at a member of staff NOT wearing their uniform! Oh, hang on, I wouldn’t have seen you anyway as you would have been tucked away, obscured by walls and stuff!

Your Manager needs to give his/her head a wobble!