Pregnant Nurse with new guidance RE COVID 19

[TTC1993]

Whats your thoughts on the new advice about pregnant women in high risk category for covid 19? Are you guys still going in to work given we've been told so self isolate now?

@Traysea - yes, I think that's true.

That's a chilling thought.

I've been holding my ground and stayed at home so far but work have now said my only two options are to go in and do admin in the office or take unpaid leave. I have no idea what to do. Financially I can easily take unpaid leave but am I being stupid? They're saying it's definitely safe to do admin and they'll try and make sure I can socially distance but I'll still be coming into a hospital every single day. What would everyone else do?

@bluebell2020 you don't need to take unpaid leave, they need to make the workplace safe or offer you work at home or medical suspension with full pay.

I usually work on an elective surgery ward however with electives being cancelled we are now a medical ward. I have been put on medical leave with full pay. It must be an area lottery as to what assistance we get?

@bluebell2020 under no circumstances can they send you home on unpaid leave, that is discrimination. Have a look at Pregnant and Screwed and Maternity Action. To effectively socially distance in a hospital you need to be able to access the office without passing patients, clinical areas etc, you should be 2m plus from others at all times and have a separate toilet at the very least. So it may be feasible to come in and do admin but some things have to be in place, it’s not a question of just avoiding the ward. If you are a doctor there is a Facebook group if you search Pregnant Doctors Covid 19 Support Group.

After yet another stressful week I had to leave work. The anxiety and panic this is causing has manifested is physical symptoms.

Advice from my GP, Consultant, Midwife, and Union all said to go home. I feel completely let down by my trust who disagree with all of this advice to keep us working as 'full time units'

Now I have made the decision to come home on the sick I feel total guilt and remorse for my team. But my very calm minded other half said the critical thing to me yesterday "I would rather you regretted coming home, than being one of those inevitable women who will regret not coming home"

He is so right. Regardless of the fall out of this professionally, I've done what I feel is right for the baby and my family.

Like one of the women above I have written to my MP, the ROCG, the unions, OH, HR, matron, basically anyone that is in the position to make changes to policy and (other than the union) each one has come back with a stock response. All hiding behind the advice of the RCOG. They will see we were right when our children are born with complications. But by then, for us, it will be too damn late.

To say I'm angry is an understatement

@AnonymousNurse I am also having to hand another sick line in as the anxiety is too much. I also feel the guilt you feel, but as my OH also pointed out, would you feel guilty for them if anything happened to your baby? The answer is unfortunately I wouldn’t, & I would forever blame my place of work & the NHS.

We all have to look after ourselves & our unborn babies at this time & stay safe xxx

@Lolxx bless you. There are so many of us on the exact same path and dealing with the exact same issues with management. I don't think I will ever feel the same about working in the NHS after this.

I'm really pleased you are off and safe. Everytime your little one gives you a kick just know you have done the right thing. Keep your chin up x

I had a look again at the RCOG guidelines regarding pregnant health care workers which was updated 26/3/20 and it does say "women of any gestation should be offered the choice of whether to work in direct patient-facing roles during the coronavirus pandemic". It also says that these choices should be "respected and supported by you employers..."

I'm taking that as being completely my choice and I'm staying off. Nothing is worth the risk when we just don't know enough about it.

@RibenaBerryPie I don’t blame you. I’m off sick for pregnancy related reasons but I wouldn’t be in any rush to rush back right now.

Thank you for sharing your experiences everyone. I have found it a very worrying and unjust time and it's been a real comfort to understand how others are navigating the current environment and protecting what's most important. I'm still waiting to hear back from the RCOG, health ministers and OH.

Hi
I currently work in a private hospital and am 5 weeks pregnant. We have stopped doing private work and have nhs work coming through to us to help with the fight against covid 19.
Although the guidance says your safe until 28 weeks, I am concerned because I work in theatres and it is a high risk area.

I was going to be fitted for a FFP 3 mask but they told me I couldn't because I'm pregnant, so that takes me out of clinical work anyway. But I still have to go and support with admin work? If I choose to go off work to protect my baby I don't get paid which at the moment isn't an option ( please don't judge me I have to keep a roof over our heads and food in the cupboards)

What have the nhs put in place to protect pregnant staff before 28 weeks???

@Mrsjones30 the problem with the guidelines is that it doesn’t protect pregnant staff

Following with interest. Have just discovered I'm pregnant. Work in NHS. Not frontline and currently on leave anyway. Will speak to occy health at the end of my leave and see what the guidance is then.

@Lolxx you've hit the nail on the head there about this being political. I think my plan is to stay off until 3rd tri, then push the issue to work from home until I can go on mat leave. I hate being off and useless, the guilt is real.

Anxiety is turning into anger now that we're all in this position.

@Mrsjones30 I'm sorry you're also in this position and don't apologise for needing to work to pay your bills. The fact you have to choose between that and the health and wellbeing of your baby is that makes me so angry at the institutions refusing to protect us. If you can work admin and keep your spacing for now and speak to everyone who will listen; your MP, your union, your occ health dept, HR, matrons, managers, GPs, everyone you can to support you in forcing your trust to send you home to work or shield you for 12 weeks. My trust will not budge but I know some are being more flexible. Good luck and keep up the noise where you work.

Eventually they will have to listen to us.

Had a hell of a day today with occy health stringently sticking to the RCOG guidelines. Couldn’t help it but cried on the phone to them because I was feeling so desperate and anxious about having to go to work - even in the office environment.

The situation we are in is so unfair and we shouldn’t be going through this experience. I will keep emailing RCOG but feel we need to keep going and stand together in order to be heard.

I’m in the similar position, Im a nurse and work in an environment with suspected covid patients. I’ve had to take unpaid and annual leave so far and now in qualifying maternity pay weeks so worried about money. There are no redeployment opportunities to non patient facing roles at present so feel very lost at what step to take next. Thank you all I’ve found reading your experiences really helpful. Hopefully the RCOG will change their advice soon in order for us all to get full support from our employers.

Hi ladies
Today I have spoken to the college of operating department practitioners and unison. I am a theatre practitioner/nurse

They have made it very clear that we have a CHOICE. If our employers can not give us work from home.... which I certainly cant! We have a choice that we can carry on working in patient facing roles (as long as we have the correct PPE) OR we should be offered work in a non patient facing role!

I know I would rather not even have to enter a hospital at the moment but I'm taking the non patient facing role, luckily my boss is pregnant so she's being really reasonable but I understand not everyone is the same.... sending love to you all and your babies 👶🏼

I hope this helps

The problem lies in the interpretation of what is safe non patient facing work. To me, I cannot be safe at work, the office, phones, computers, toilets and food outlets are all shared with staff who are seeing COVID patients so its all well and good not going on the ward but anyone here who works in a hospital will know that the 2 metre rule doesn't really exist. Coupled with the fact I’m not visibly pregnant and not wanting to tell everyone yet as it’s too early I can’t see how I can effectively socially distance. Many people’s employers have different opinions to mine though

@Emerald89 I've written to my employer to ask to work from home which in the eyes of the law is a reasonable request and I feel the exact same way. I am 11 weeks, I have a scan in two weeks time which I will have to attend alone - after a miscarriage and finding out via the scan in my previous pregnancy this is a scary concept. I feel we have enough anxiety to be facing as pregnant women during a pandemic without having the extra stresses of exposure within our work environment. Are most people going sick for the time being?

I am pasting below a letter drafted by Pregnant Then Screwed which outlines the employment laws that remain relevant during this crisis. I haven't sent this yet but may do:

Dear

As you know I am currently XX week(s) pregnant and expecting my baby on XX/XX/2020.

As I am sure that you are aware, under section 16 of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1996, as my employer, you have a legal responsibility to conduct a workplace risk assessment for new or expectant mothers. In assessing the potential risks to my health and safety and that of my baby, the legislation clearly states that you must consider the impact of infectious diseases, and take steps to minimise these risks where possible, including altering my working conditions and hours if necessary.

Pregnant women are considered especially vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, and the Government, under the advice of its Chief Medical Officer, has instructed all pregnant women to take stringent measures in socially distancing themselves to minimise their potential exposure to the virus. I am concerned that under my current working conditions, I am unable to do that and consequently, I am at increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

I am therefore requesting that, in compliance with the aforementioned legislation, you look at measures that can be imposed to alter my working conditions with immediate effect and offer me an alternative solution whereby I am able to adhere to the government’s medical advice to socially distance myself during my pregnancy, and limit my exposure to COVID-19.

If you are unable to alter my working conditions or offer me an alternative role during this period, then under section 16 (3) of the aforementioned legislation you are obliged to suspend me for reasons relating to my maternity on full pay until the risks to me can be avoided.

Whilst I, of course, want to continue to support my team and the organisation throughout this challenging period, I am sure you understand my concerns given the potential harm that a lack of social distancing cause to both myself and my unborn child, I have no choice but to bring this matter to your attention.

[FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS]

I know that previous guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) had distinguished between women who are pre-28 weeks pregnant and post-28 weeks pregnant however, they have now acknowledged the significant legal protection that applies to all pregnant workers, and stated that this must be followed in relation to COVID-19.

I would be grateful if you could please acknowledge receipt of this correspondence, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss matters with you further.

Yours sincerely,

@Traysea that’s a useful letter

I’m off sick right now but related to a chronic health condition rather than coronavirus. My sick note finished next week and I’m hoping to get remote access to do work at home

Healthcare worker here, I've been working from home doing virtual clinics for past 2 weeks, however now I am being asked to come back to the hospital, decision which I really don't understand. Very uneasy and anxious. Thank you for the letter @Traysea

My next step if i don’t make any progress is to try and get a sick note from my gp, have others managed to do this successfully when related to covid stress? It’s so frustrating that it is having to come to that though. Completely understand why working in a non patient facing role, although better, is still not a solution as the risk is not eliminated if you can’t socially distance. I have contacted the RCN for further advice but I think others have already tried this to no avail.

@RoseABC I managed to get a 2 week line with stress at work, the next 2 week line I got my gp has wrote that I am fit for work if my work can guarantee covid precautions & non patient facing role, if they can’t then my work have to sign me off & not the gp anymore. However, like a lot of you I am worried that the “non patient facing roles” my work can offer me is also not safe & I am in the dilemma of having to call my gp again!

My work wouldn't suspend me as in their opinion working admin was fine. But as others have said the process of coming to work at a hospital site with shared areas and mixing with staff still offers risk we should not be exposed to.

I got a months sick note which was a little easier to do as I used the eConsult service; filling in an online form is much easier than having the conversation on the phone.

Until they offer home working I will not be going back. It affects my maternity pay and leave but there's nothing else I can do at this point.

@RoseABC if your workplace will not offer redeployment to a non patient facing role then they absolutely have to suspend you on full pay as per the letter posted above.