Frontline NHS staff that fall into 'at risk' group...

[MissBax]

Have you had any support from employers today? What are your plans?

I'm 9 weeks pregnant, currently on annual leave. Due back in work on Thursday. Currently awaiting a call back from GP for advice then I'll be calling employee health and wellbeing. I'm a district nurse and feeling uncomfortable about being out in the community now being considered at risk.

Also apprehensive about speaking to my manager on Thursday as I feel they still aren't taking the whole thing seriously. I've got a pregnant friend who's a teacher, she's been told not to come in!

Anyone else in a similar position? Feeling a little out of my depth.

Hi @MissBax, I'm in the same situation as you: I'm 10 weeks and currently on annual leave and due back for duty in a week.

I was going to ring up today, but think I will leave it a few days and see how things are looking by Friday/ Monday to see if any new information about what we should be doing has come out. I don't think my management will have any advice to give me at the moment.

I work on a ward. I feel worried that I'll have to go in, and my client group don't always have the best hygiene due to their illnesses. It's not a job that I could WFH. I feel confused about the social distancing advice... I wonder if work is being classed as 'social' and if they re-deployed me to do something like telephone triage, I'd still have to go into the building and use the same facilities as everyone else.

Lets hope we gets some clarity soon!

It's so difficult for people in the health and social care sector isn't it. Especially those now classed as at risk. I've got a colleague who has COPD and has been hospitalised with it in the past. She's also off today and is awaiting calls back from OH and the respiratory team. I imagine all these services are inundated with calls today but we need some clarity!

I wonder what they will do with regard to pay/ sick pay. Wonder if we would get our normal sickness pay for a few months or whether it would automatically just be SSP at the lowest rate. Too many things going around in my head!

I also work for NHS and I am not an at risk group, however my line manager has advised our at risk staff I.e those over 60 that they will not be disbanded to high risk environments or responsible for caring for any confirmed cases of CV. The rest of us will do that. But that's all the advice we have been given. I know one of them was going to contact occupational health for clarity and that was the advice in the email we were sent so could you try them? I think if you go in with a workable solution then they will be more likely to accept it. Where would you be comfortable working? Is there anything office based you could do? And honestly if you want to isolate I think you are well within your rights to do so, if the PM has advised it. I feel that NHS workers are too often told the rules dont apply to us, we are very much expected to take risks that wouldn't be asked of anyone else.

I’m a nurse and have a chronic condition and am entitled to the flu jab every year because of it.

I have no idea what to do.

Managers have not been very supportive of other colleagues who have prevented with symptoms so I’m dreading talking to them.

I have been trying to ring occupational heath for the last 2.5 hours but the line is constantly engaged.

I’m due to go into work tomorrow and I just don’t know what to do.

Just a quick update -

GP very supportive, has advised avoiding work until clearer instructions given by government. As I'm not technically sick he is happy to write a fitness to work note stating I am fit to work but must remain at home. (obviously they are not going to accommodate that though as isn't possible). He stated if they don't accept the fit to work note he will write a sick note. Although this would then affect how I'm paid.

Still awaiting a call back from Occupational Health, although receptionist said they have many call backs to make in light of last night's announcement.

Going to call my manager in about half an hour. I know she'll want me to come in and work from out office at the very least but I'm not even comfortable with that if other staff are constantly in and out of the office (what would be the point?!)

I’m really glad your GP has been supportive.

I managed to get through to OH and am just waiting for a nurse to call me back to discuss where I stand regarding g coming into work.

I'm early pregnancy and frontline and spoke to Occ Health this morning. They said in light of new guidance I am to meet with my line manager to do a risk assessment and then carry out activities that we both feel are safe (this seems a bit idealistic for me but we'll see). If I am unable to work safely then I shouldn't be at work and it would be counted as off sick.
That's just what OH say, what NHS say may be different...

That's just what OH say, what NHS say may be different...

I think this is going to be a huge problem for a lot of frontline NHS workers.

I have a feeling a lot of us are simply going to be told to just get on with it because they can’t have staff going off.

I think NHS staff are viewed as collateral damage.....we are lambs heading straight to the slaughter house....

I’m in the same position. I’m 8 weeks pregnant and a practice nurse. A lot of my work is face to face care, but with the over 70’s being told to stay home I’m going to have to refer many to our district nurse colleagues.

I’m not covered by the agenda to change on my contract either which is worrying me now.

Regarding being paid if we are told to remain home, then we should be paid right? As it’s due to being pregnant that we would be unable to work.

Right, second update (not as great).

Spoke to manager who has said that the latest guidance they have received is that we are simply not to have patient contact, but that contact with other staff is fine, therefore I am to be out on admin duties in the office.

This seems counterproductive to me as I will then be mixing with all the staff who come back from visiting 10-15 patients each. So cross contamination with potentially 150-200 patients a day. How is that better?! There will also be another staff member who falls into the vulnerable group. So both of us on office duties, plus an administrator and 2 x managers in the office in the morning. Then around 30 staff in the office in the afternoon following their visits for patient handover and huddle.

I feel like I've been put in a very difficult position now and I'm just feeling really anxious.

I would speak to your GP again and say your employers cannot keep you isolated from potential carriers and so could you be signed off sick?

It is my understanding that NHS employees get full pay for 6 Months if they are signed off sick.

I may be wrong though so definitely enquire into it.

I've also just been informed that I am not allowed to go on the ward or complete any clinical duties. They would like me to complete admin like incident reviews and tribunal reports and I will be working with other people they have identified as vulnerable which makes me feel better as I hope that those identified as vulnerable will be more cautious than those not classed as vulnerable (and people wont be in and out all day completing home visits/ patient contact).

Feeling quite relieved now. I hope everyone else gets some good news soon

I’m frontline social care. I really cannot do my job without coming into contact with many people. However, they are making adjustments and I am doing an amended role which means I can work from home.

I have to say, I’ve heard some disappointing stories from my NHS colleagues. They don’t sound like they’re being well supported at all.

Can you get signed off sick?

My NHS colleagues aren’t being supported.

I fall into the “at risk” category and should be socially distancing myself for 12 weeks but I’m pretty sure my Managers are going to tell me I still have to work