Well, isn't this getting silly!

[BleddyHell]

So today rules for NHS staff have been updated...if we get pinged by track and trace, or one of our household tests positive, we must still go to work but have to isolate at home when not at work. I think somebody has lost the bloody plot, I really do.

and they wonder why some of us simply don't have that app

This would be hilarious if it didn't fuck over the vulnerable and the poor sods who've slogged themselves to death through this pandemic!!

These rules are getting more ridiculous by the day!!

Makes sense to me - NHS struggling due to self isolations. All this is saying is that the 16 august rule for all no self isolation if double vaccinated is brought forward for NHS staff.
Once pretty much everyone is vaccinated we need patients to have tests to check if their vaccines have worked or not.

@RichardMarxisinnocent

This is what I was trying to post

Is this the info you're talking about?
www.gov.uk/government/news/frontline-health-and-care-staff-can-work-rather-than-self-isolate

If so, it says this:
The government is clear the change applies only to frontline NHS and social care staff where their absence may lead to a significant risk of harm.

The decision to allow NHS and social care staff to attend work after being told to self-isolate should be made on a case-by-case basis, and only after a risk assessment by the organisation’s management.

This must be authorised by the organisation’s local Director of Infection Prevention and Control, the lead professional for health protection, or the Director of Public Health relevant to the organisation.

So sounds like it isn't just a blanket policy for the whole of the NHS.

Exactly this It's not for all nhs staff . Its following a risk assessment and approval if the service is likely to be at risk due to lack of staffing

Ad an nhs worker if you get told to isolate tomorrow you cant just turn up at work

@Girlmama3

That's crazy.

If someone in your tests positive you can go to work, with vunerable people?? What the hell??

It is truly ridiculous. Spread your germs to all the vunerable patients. Noone will go to the hospital an seek care for fear of catching it. They just want you to work to the bone that is it. Its an absolute disgrace.

Hoping it isn't a blanket policy

@fresiaboquet @RichardMarxisinnocent @Needcoffeecoffeecoffee unfortunately our posts on here are just being ignored, as pointing out the facts isn't quite as sensational as what the OP is suggesting

[quote jonkersdeplonkers]@BleddyHell you're scaremongering. It's not the case that all NHS staff can now go to work if they are pinged. And it's not helpful to start a thread like this without giving accurate information. Over the last year many people have seen their health and well-being deteriorate because they've avoided seeking healthcare or they haven't allowed carers / health professionals into their homes. Your OP is not going to help people make an informed decision. [/quote]
Oh, I don't know - I'd really rather not find out my vaccination protection isn't perfect (due to autoimmune disease) as a result of catching the latest variant from somebody at the hospital because their manager has decided that the air on the 9th floor - where the windows can never open - can't carry Covid and orders the guy on the desk to come into work even when his entire family are sick.

That leaves the decision as being 'Do you want to risk it? Flip a coin'.

I predict mass burn out of staff, because of this policy.

Staff are burning out anyway because they are having to cover for people who don’t even have COVID

@NeverDropYourMooncup or you could find out how the decisions are actually made and make your decision based on facts rather than hearsay?

This has to be the stupidest rule yet!

It's for social care staff to. No I won't be going into work if I have to isolate stuff thwt

This wouldnt be possible in reality. How do frontline key NHS staff get to work? Unless you can charge your electric car you would have to buy petrol in the course of ten days. Therefore it's not possible to isolate except solely to work.

No one would buy petrol but think "I cant pick up food"

My phone cant even run the app properly thank God it seems

[quote jonkersdeplonkers]@NeverDropYourMooncup or you could find out how the decisions are actually made and make your decision based on facts rather than hearsay? [/quote]
Depends. Would you like to hear how I was nearly given a final warning for absence for my first ever sick leave when I was sent home from work in SCBU - with a severe bacterial chest infection - by the Lead Paediatric Consultant?

My manager demanded I come straight back into work the following morning because it wasn't her problem (or mine, apparently) how vulnerable the babies and Mums were, her problem was non clinical staffing levels and as I wasn't a nurse, it was perfectly fine to be there for seven hours a day, coughing, hacking and gasping for breath in a windowless room. And when I did go back, complete with medical certificate, I got pulled into a surprise meeting where she stated that my absence had been unnecessary.

Genuinely chilling. My brother is ECV and currently very unwell. He should be in hospital but they've faciliated him being at home (thanks to round the clock care from his wife) because as an ECV patient, it's too risky for him to be on a ward. He has to see a doctor every second day though, and now you're telling me that that doctor could have a wife or child with Covid at home, or have been in the pub the weekend before with someone who's now positive for Covid?! This could actually kill people like my DB.

@nordica

But won't this be the same for all of us from 16th August if we've been double jabbed? What difference will a few weeks make really? They are clearly expecting hospitalisation numbers to go up a lot and they are worried about there not being enough staff if lots are isolating.

On another thread someone was already saying she is part of the pilot as a close contact because her DH has covid, but she is doing daily tests instead of isolating.

Exactly this! They are only getting a few weeks jump start - it absolutely makes sense as they are incredibly critical and soon freedom day pings will be off the scale!

What about what you need to do in order to work? Like buy petrol or access childcare? If you are working it is also harder to organise a supermarket delivery as it can't be just any time like if you are home isolating.

agree, staff are burnt out, covering those who have come into contact, and may or may not be positive.
this way, with daily testing, there will be less staff off

The problem I see is that people will think that if staff in NHS are being told to carry on working if they are pinged or contacted by T&T then they'll do the same .

And they wont have read all the additional precautions that are mandated .

The staff member should be fully vaccinated, defined as having received both doses of an MHRA approved vaccination, with 14 days having elapsed since the final dose.
The staff member should undertake a PCR test and should self-isolate until they receive the result. They should only attend work if this result is negative.
They should undertake daily LFD tests prior to starting work each day. Test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace via the web portal and to their duty manager. Any staff member who has a positive LFD test during this period should not attend work and should arrange a PCR test as soon as possible.
If the staff member develops any COVID symptoms, they should stay at home and immediately arrange a PCR test
Staff working during this 10-day period should comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE should be properly worn throughout the day. Any breaches should be reported immediately to their line manager.
The staff member should not work with clinically extremely vulnerable patients or residents, as determined by the organisation.

@peridito

The problem I see is that people will think that if staff in NHS are being told to carry on working if they are pinged or contacted by T&T then they'll do the same .

And they wont have read all the additional precautions that are mandated .

The staff member should be fully vaccinated, defined as having received both doses of an MHRA approved vaccination, with 14 days having elapsed since the final dose.
The staff member should undertake a PCR test and should self-isolate until they receive the result. They should only attend work if this result is negative.
They should undertake daily LFD tests prior to starting work each day. Test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace via the web portal and to their duty manager. Any staff member who has a positive LFD test during this period should not attend work and should arrange a PCR test as soon as possible.
If the staff member develops any COVID symptoms, they should stay at home and immediately arrange a PCR test
Staff working during this 10-day period should comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE should be properly worn throughout the day. Any breaches should be reported immediately to their line manager.
The staff member should not work with clinically extremely vulnerable patients or residents, as determined by the organisation.

Quite possibly but they will be expecting that. As we move towards rule changes they gear up to more and more people being less and less cautious. By mid august and no one double jabbed will need to isolate AT ALL so all it really is is an easing in.

😂 so you can go work your arse off, but you can’t go visit family- of course this is real, you know that because it’s so stupid.

good point @iloveredpandas