Pregnant medical staff working during Corona

[shhhhs]

Hi,
Just wanting to know what pregnant nurses/medical professionals are doing during the virus?

I'm a new who was told not to come back to work after yesterday until there is clearer instruction in place. There are four pregnant nurses in my team and this just doesn't seem realistic to me.

What have others experienced?

Meant to say I'm a nurse, not a new 🤦

My unit have told pregnant staff to stay at home and self isolate

I'm sure the government will quickly change that rule when a massive percentage of the work force are off!

I’m a nurse and my trust have said we have to be in work and they will modify our roles! Basically they are stopping face to face contact with suspected COVID 19 patients. At the moment I’m on unpaid leave as government guidance says social distancing and I think sitting in offices with all my colleagues who have potentially been in contact or could be infected is a risk that I’m not willing to take. Hoping some further guidance will be given

@MLP123 that's crazy you have to take unpaid leave!! My boss was almost insistent I didn't come in, and they've just had a meeting now say off indefinitely, which to me is crazy. But at least they are being supportive I guess.

I work between two trusts both have sent all pregnant staff home until further notice. I thought it was government guidelines and so. It up to the nhs @MLP123 I would be in touch with your union that doesn't sound fair you should be at home fully paid like everyone else!

I’ve spoken to my manager today and I either choose to work and measures will be put in place to make sure I don’t see patients and am on a desk away from others or I use a mixture of unpaid/ annual leave and then mat leave!

My trust are expecting us to come in. I work in ICU. Have been moved away from areas with confirmed cases but still working in areas with suspected cases. 17 weeks pregnant. Pretty scary times. It’s so vague what the government have said, it needs to be standardised across all hospitals.

I emailed the RCN today, their response included this:

‘The RCN would expect employers and occupational health to carry out or review a pregnancy risk assessment and put systems in place to protect the health care worker and find suitable alternative work, including home working.

Where the risk cannot be removed and suitable alternative work is not available then the pregnant member of staff should be suspended on full paid leave for as long as necessary to protect her health and safety, or that of her unborn child.

Pregnant staff should escalate concerns to their line manager in the first instance. They may also wish to liaise with their GP or midwife, if they are concerned.’

Unfortunately I think it is down to the individual trust at the moment until the guidance from the government becomes stricter. I have looked for advice from the RCN and they state that basically if we can’t work from home then provisions should be put in place, if that’s not possible we go off with full pay. My trust obv feel that the provisions they are offering are fair and reasonable so I don’t think I stand much chance. I work in a city where we have only a few confirmed cases, I think if there were more that it may change?! This is the RCN link www.rcn.org.uk/get-help/rcn-advice/covid-19

@MLP123 I work in a HCID in London, hoping the government give some clearer advice.

Our trust expects us to still go into work and avoid confirmed or suspected cases - this is impossible so I have gone off sick. Fortunately ive only got 5 weeks left until my mat leave kicks in. I feel for those of you who are not as far along and don’t have as much choice. I find it crazy that the government can say avoid at all costs, but the hospitals say come on in. I understand they can’t afford to lose staff but I’m not prepared to risk my baby x

I don't think the government will come out with an exact yes or no, it would put too much responsibility on them for if things went wrong. By being vague they relieve themselves of responsibility.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/updated-advice-for-pregnant-healthcare-workers-and-employers-during-coronavirus-outbreak/

Here’s the latest advice from RCOG

@towerse the link doesn't work, could you retry please

Just had a Google, looks like we're back to work then! I wonder if they'll change the advice for all pregnant women or the rest will still be told to self isolate?? My boss had just told me on Friday I would be off for at least the next two weeks, guessing this won't be the case anymore!

I’m a community nurse and was working from him last week doing what I could eg phoning patients etc. I’m 25 weeks pregnant. That new advice looks like I would be back to patient facing 😬. I do feel guilty not helping my colleagues but if I get it I’m aware of the extra burden I’ll be on the NHS. I’ve arranged to take maternity ASAP which starts of 20th April so thankfully I can escape then. I don’t see how patient facing nurses can practice social distancing at all! How can you dress a wound from 2 metres away?!

@itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy I agree, it's unrealistic. I feel like they're practising on NHS staff due to being so short staffed. Why do you have to be face to face with it when any pregnant people in different careers are being told to not even leave their homes?? It seems like they are so panicked about being short staffed that staff safety isn't their first priority. I'm community too and we don't even have any PPE in stock, it's a joke.

I’m an ODP and I’m still at work for the moment only working with clean patients however been told that when it gets so bad I will be expected to step up’.
We have don’t have enough PPE as it it.

I'm an AHP I work across the hospital wards including a&e. I'm only 6 weeks pregnant and my boss has told me to stay away for now, although I expect this to change.
Im happy to go back to work and support my team but I'm going to have an early scan to make sure all is ok next week.
I will speak to my boss again after my scan and see what he wants me to do. I have no option to work from home as my role is completely patient focused.