Community pharmacist - 28 weeks pregnant

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I’m looking for some advice

I’m 28 weeks pregnant. I work for a big company and HR are insisting the advice states that it is safe for me to be at work after 28 weeks in my normal
Patient facing role. Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed? I feel very worried about this as I’m expected to sit in a very small consultation room with very little PPE with patients. It’s also impossible to social distance in the dispensary

I’m due to off start of September (I’m due 5th October)

Thank you!

Are you in a union? That would be my first port of call, after that I would look for advice from GP or midwife, something to challenge HR with.

My work initially wanted pregnant woman back (public facing role) having told us all to stay off when lockdown first began, I contacted my GP for advice who said the guidelines were pretty unclear but that she thought it would be safe for me to go back after a risk assessment. Thankfully after being back at work for 1 day my work done a U turn and said that all pregnant woman in the 3rd trimester were to go off work again. I had involved my equivalent of a union and again before the U turn they said all the available guidelines were too wishy washy and that I'd have to go back!

Hi OP I too am a community pharmacist and won’t be returning to work now, I am now 27 weeks and my company have put all pregnant women in third trimester on medical suspension. If you are part of the PDA they can give you advice! Otherwise I would say to the HR department that The guidance from government has not changed in that pregnant women are still classed as vulnerable and should be minimising contact with others as much as possible. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists emphasises the importance of social distancing from 28 weeks pregnancy and states that if you are in your third trimester they strongly advise we avoid direct patient contact and we should significantly reduce social contact.

I'm a community OT in the NHs. I'm almost 31 weeks pregnant and working from home, my work are happy to support me with this

Hi I'm a community pharmacist too although only 12 weeks at the moment. We currently aren't doing any face to face consultations in my shop. I'll speak to someone at the counter where I can keep a 2 metre distance if they are happy to do this. And if anything is confidential then I'll ask them to phone the shop so we can have a private consultation on the phone. It seems to be working so far although I know head office will probably be keen to change this further down the line but I'm lucky that I work with a second pharmacist and a pre reg so will be able to minimise patient contact. As for PPE I would have thought they would have to provide you with suitable enough attire. Have you had a risk assessment done? Also as others have said i would get in touch with the PDA if you can.

Hi everyone, I'm in Ireland and we haven't got the same restrictions as the UK when it comes to pregnant women. However, with restrictions here being eased my workplace will be allowing patients and customers in to the shop area for the first time since lockdown. I'm absolutely panicked with worry about it and because I'm based on the shop floor I will be face to face with the public. We have had 5 new cases in the surrounding area in the last few days and we are all worried about a second wave. I'm loosing sleep over this, I'm almost 25 weeks pregnant some days I can't even think straight with worry. Any advice on what you would do in this situation?

Hi @onetime10, have you been on furlough throughout this? If so then I would say to your HR department that you are coming in to your third trimester and that guidance from 28 weeks onwards is to avoid public facing roles and reduce social contact. Therefore, is it necessary that you go back to work when you will have to be suspended again when you come to third trimester. That is what I said to the HR manager at my company when I was 24 weeks and the response was yep you are absolutely right! And so I won’t be returning to work.

That seems to depend what company you work for!
Mine just says their is no need to isolate. They don’t seem to take into consideration the advice.

@Alychloe no I haven't been on furlough I have worked right through this whole time however we have had quite a large barrier up at the entrance to the pharmacy including a screen. This will be gone shortly as far as I am aware as our boss has mentioned it. The guidance here in Ireland was never the same as in the UK but I just do not feel comfortable working that closely with the public right now. I should maybe discuss it with my GP about it all and go from there.

I am a secondary school teacher and have been told that I am expected back in September when I will be 30 weeks pregnant. I will be seeing 120-150 different students every day. Very very worried.

The Royal college of obs and gynae haven't updated their guidance since June but do have recommendations for pregnant health care workers
www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/

I’m sorry to hear your employer seems to be so unhelpful. It might be useful to show then thus guidance (if you click on the link occupational health advice for employers and pregnant women) it clearly states face to face contact from 28 weeks is not recommended. I know self employed NHS dentists have been advised they can claim sick pay from 28 weeks to cover them until they start their maternity pay. It would be a definite pay cut but at least you wouldn’t need to take your maternity really early and it might help to tide you over? Could be worth looking into

I work in a call centre and they've suddenly announced they're looking to get vulnerable people back who haven't had a shielding letter.
My consultant today when I mentioned it said govt advice and that from the rcog hasn't changed that 28wk + should be shielding. He wrote a note on my file which I sent to my team leader as I know a few others in 3rd trimester have had concerns about going back.
Who knows if it will change soon tho x

Your employer is required to do a risk assessment & minimise risk to you.
There’s some helpful info from NHSI (Midlands) on performing risk assessments for Pharmacy professionals.
www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/information-for-professionals/information-for-pharmacists/