NHS worker - mixed messages and not following guidelines?

[littlemixarerubbish]

I'm a community physio. I work in rehab. Most of my patients are in the vulnerable or very vulnerable group that should be self isolating. 70% of my input can wait a few months without a massive impact. But we've been told we need to carry on visiting people. I get the bus to my visits. I feel like I'm putting everyone I see at risk. But my manager is insistent we carry on regardless (though patients can of course refuse to see us).

A good friend who is a SLT is 29 weeks pregnant. Our trust has stated that only pregnant women with underlying cardiac conditions are at risk. All others must carry on regardless.

Many roles can be carried out from home, especially as many teams are now doing telephone bases input. Our trust is insisting everyone must be present in the workplace. Many offices don't have space to allow adequate social distancing.

I'm expecting to be redeployed soon, which is fine. But I have no faith thus will be done in a way that will ensure I am safe and can do my job safely. Right now, the risk I'm posing to my family by leaving my home each day just doesn't seem worth it.

I'm just fed up

I am not surprised! The inconsistencies between the trusts in implementing government advice/policy is ridiculous!!
Your trust should be deferring non-essential visits. Surely, you call your caseload for updates and to give support and advice.

*you can call

We can call. But we've been told to carry on as normal. I was given a pile of new referrals just as I was leaving today to get booked in this week. I guarantee they'll all be over 70 and most will be fine without me for a while. It's ridiculous.

It’s disgusting the way our nhs staff are being treated, expected to go around doing business as usual. Disgraceful. It should be the same as GPs- emergencies only. Anything that can wait should wait. Perhaps you should raise your concerns with the union or even your MSP?

Do you even have PPE??

@Lifeisabeach09 we've been told that it's accessible. We don't have it on site. And training isn't for another month

@littlemixarerubbish,

Your trust are morons. They need to be limiting visits.
OP, any chance you and your team-members can collectively refuse to do non-essential visits.
I get that for many vulnerable and elderly, your visits might be some of the only company they have but it really needs to be a balance between their needs and your protection and reducing the spread of the virus, iykwim.