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Original poster

NHS employee Covid policy

176 replies

TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 12:37

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

OP posts:
MerryBlueberry · 27/12/2023 18:56

Thé NHS is fucking scary. They’ll be removing the 48hours post D&V soon and tell you to come in and shit and vomit in ward toilets. I used to work on a respiratory ward, where they doctors were expected to come in with full blown flu and coughing and sneezing. We were a ward with a high death rate of inpatients.

Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 18:59

@FourthToeOnTheRight

Exactly! 90% of it is done on the phone, its navigating anywhere but to the GPs (none work full time and they do most on the phone too) I could do my job exactly the same, I also look after diabetic and other long term health clinics and organise, none of it f2f. All done in the background. I wanted to lessen the load, book in blood tests, etc etc etc.it's a shambles

OP posts:
Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 19:02

MerryBlueberry · 27/12/2023 18:56

Thé NHS is fucking scary. They’ll be removing the 48hours post D&V soon and tell you to come in and shit and vomit in ward toilets. I used to work on a respiratory ward, where they doctors were expected to come in with full blown flu and coughing and sneezing. We were a ward with a high death rate of inpatients.

😩but doesn't surprise me.

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Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 19:08

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. @Thedogscollar yep this is how it is! 😂

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Miyagi99 · 27/12/2023 19:19

If you were sick you should have stayed off, as with any illness but as far as policy goes, no, Covid is treated the same as a cold etc now.

Lougle · 27/12/2023 19:24

If you have a uniform, you need to wear the uniform. That's part of the job. You weren't ready to work. If you wanted to wear something warmer, you could have taken it with you and asked to wear it over the top.

Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 19:24

Miyagi99 · 27/12/2023 19:19

If you were sick you should have stayed off, as with any illness but as far as policy goes, no, Covid is treated the same as a cold etc now.

Not sick enough where I couldnt be isolated and do my job. Happy to stay home but called in. But you can work and be ill and also work isolated and get shit done. But downstairs in a cold room with no ventilation and wear a uniform that no one sees, despite your illness rather than being allowed to wrap on and get on with it. Rather than being sent bloody home when I got there.Why are so many missing the point?

OP posts:
Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 19:26

Lougle · 27/12/2023 19:24

If you have a uniform, you need to wear the uniform. That's part of the job. You weren't ready to work. If you wanted to wear something warmer, you could have taken it with you and asked to wear it over the top.

I'm not a slave to a nhs contract business. I went above and beyond

OP posts:
FourthToeOnTheRight · 27/12/2023 19:39

@TiddyTidTwo i don’t think many posters are reading what the real issue was here.

Lougle · 27/12/2023 19:45

TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 19:26

I'm not a slave to a nhs contract business. I went above and beyond

Show quote history

You have a contract and part of it is wearing the nylon sleeveless blouse. You quite literally couldn't go above and beyond if you weren't meeting the basic requirements, no matter how amazing you think you were being.

time4aNC · 27/12/2023 19:51

It’s ridiculous. This is how outbreaks happen in the hospital which cause chaos. I think infection control make it up as they go along honestly.

Thedogscollar · 27/12/2023 20:03

Lougle · 27/12/2023 19:45

You have a contract and part of it is wearing the nylon sleeveless blouse. You quite literally couldn't go above and beyond if you weren't meeting the basic requirements, no matter how amazing you think you were being.

Show quote history

Please tell me this is a joke. I can never tell on this site.
If you are serious then you need to remove that stick from your arse.
Apologies if you're joking.

Thedogscollar · 27/12/2023 20:23

@TiddyTidTwo you asked why are so many missing the point?
They are being deliberately obtuse.
Either that or spectacularly thick.
I think your GP surgery has just lost another goodun😔

Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 21:35

Ok let's face it. It was all about money and me making them more money and they were pissed off I tested. Otherwise fuck everyone else,sweep it under the carpet

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Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 21:38

@Thedogscollar incredible isn't it. I bet 2 years ago the same posters would be breathing fire I stood 6 inches close to another during the pandemic or mixed with 7 people instead of 6 😂

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 27/12/2023 21:41

Going in to work sick doesn’t show work ethic - it shows either martyrdom or poor sick pay meaning you end up so financially disadvantaged you can’t stay off which is awful.

EasterIssland · 27/12/2023 21:44

TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 12:43

One of my Co workers young son has stage 4 terminal cancer so she was my first thought. I was surprised at the policy when nhs guidelines say different.

I was fine to battle on locked in a room on my own. I'd have disinfected everywhere and stayed away from everyone but management were more concerned about my shirt.

If you had flu with fever would you have gone in? Or would you have called in sick?
if Not feeling well stay at home.
if feeling ill but unwell a bit and want to protect this child then mask up.

what did you expect your boss to say? Stay at home ? You could have had that by calling in sick. Covid is like any other illness If don’t feel well stay at home.

Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 21:58

@EasterIssland you've missed the point. I went through all of that, then got sent home because of a blouse.

I tested because of my Co worker and vulnerable patients. So onus was on my employer. Truth is they were pissed I tested and didn't just rock in.

OP posts:
Toohardtofindaproperusername · 27/12/2023 22:04

TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 15:44

I'm not too I'll to work. I'm just very aware of my Co workers (one in particular) and f2f with patients. I was happy to work isolated but got sent home with no pay because I wasn't wearing a shirt no one would see. Well enough to work but wanted to be warm so I could do my job isolated in a room with no proper heating or ventilation (windows are sealed shut) no heating they have electric fan heaters but no thanks I'm coughing and sneezing and rather wrap up warm instead. It was an 8 hour shift in that room

Show quote history

Sorry I rhink I missed some of that.
I do rhi k if sneezing and coughing you should juts have refused to go in. You are likley infectious
But.. it seems an absokuteky ridiculous response by a manager and I'd take it up with them, union rep or someone else. You can't have it every which way. Inhumane.
Hope u are feeling better. Hope you are in a union. It ain't gonna get easier we are being completely killed off by tories and will be so too by starmers crew of spineless supporters.

EasterIssland · 27/12/2023 22:39

TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 21:58

@EasterIssland you've missed the point. I went through all of that, then got sent home because of a blouse.

I tested because of my Co worker and vulnerable patients. So onus was on my employer. Truth is they were pissed I tested and didn't just rock in.

You’re missing the point. Going to work with fever is not ok. You should have called in sick. If you cared so much about the stage 4 child then that should be the right decision .

Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 22:50

Ffs @EasterIssland I DID call in sick, then told no restrictions. I am well enough to work in that job and I only got offered a separate room when I expressed my shock I'd be in front of patients. Quite happy to be isolated and get my head down but wasn't good enough as I had to look the part even though no one would see me. What about that can't you get your head around?

OP posts:
Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 23:03

I feel ok, I've been much worse before. But in my heart I could not just go in with this and pretend I didn't have it. It's selfish. I thought I was doing the right thing and was happy isolating in a room although I thought it was a straight "god no don't come in with that". my reason for annoyance is the corporate management bullshit that allows a newly covid positive employee in yet moans she wanted to dress for comfort, alone and isolated. Its bullshit. Forget the nhs guidelines they're obviously lies. Just carry on!

Is it me??

OP posts:
Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 23:04

I mean why bother reading this?

NHS employee Covid policy
OP posts:
Original poster
TiddyTidTwo · 27/12/2023 23:09

I sent that to my boss and she said oh that's been updated. No it hasn't. I screenshotted that today. Anyway we were all scared out of our wits for 2 years, Now it's all fine. My Aunty has health conditions and has covid and feels awful. How can it be ok to knowingly spread it?

I'm fine but others might not be.

OP posts:
chewsandwhine · 27/12/2023 23:21

Double standards in the nhs.
They like to appear to be doing the right thing by patients ie Covid check them if have symptoms and if positive put into isolation, seemingly to protect other patients.

Yet, all patients are being exposed to Covid by the staff on a daily basis as they are expected to go to work regardless ( and care for that trusting, frail old person who may die of it )

It’s a complete mockery !!🙄and an insult to intelligence of all concerned.

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