Any pregnant NHS staff can advise?

[FirsttimerNI]

Hi ladies,
I have just got my BFP for pregnancy number 2. Very early, only just 4 weeks. I work in the nhs, in a patient facing role (a speech and language therapist on hospital wards). I have tried to read up on the RCOG covid 19 guidelines and my trusts guidelines, and my understanding of it seems to be that you must work from home from 28 weeks on, but that before 12 weeks it is your choice to work in a patient facing role or not and your employer must support your choice. Just wondering if any one else has been in this position and what you did? Planning on phoning GP for advice tomorrow but wondering what others experiences are- I would much prefer clear guidance one way or the other rather than a choice!
Thanks in advance

Hi I work as a phlebotomist in the NHS and like you I am 4 weeks pregnant. I have had a covid risk assessment and apparently the guidance on not been able to work face to face with patients at 28 weeks is no longer on the guidelines. I don’t want to be at home due to been put in the at risk category I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I just state also I had covid in March and currently have antibodies so hoping this goes towards me on my risk assessment xx

@meemooxxx I am currently 28+2 working for the NHS in an admin role but it does require me to go onto wards etc as I recruit international nurses. I have been told that I can no longer go into the office & must work from home due to being in the high risk category. I have had a risk assessment a few months ago but just wondering where you have found the guidance saying we dont have to work from home as I really want to go into the office for some normality before MAT leave :)

And congratulations to you both on your pregnancies xx

I shall double check at work this week and try and get a pic of document they are referring to! Although when I’ve just googled it, your right, at 28 weeks we are advised to stay at home! I’ll try and clarify it further xxx

Hey im a nurse working on the wards in the nhs. Im 21+3.
I had 2 risk assessments done, one by my manager and 1 by occy health. Im still working on the wards with restrictions such as not looking after suspected covid patients, those awaiting swab results, any rooms where theres aerosol generated procedures and im not to swab patients either.
Currently the guidelines say to shield from 28 weeks on full pay without it affecting your maternity pay, which 2 other nurses on my ward have done recently.

I know of other nurses on other wards who have decided they dont want to be in a patient facing role at present and have been redeployed into non patient facing roles such as admin during the remainder of their pregnancy.
Im happy with the decision ive made to stay on the ward. Weve had no positive cases during my pregnancy and ive been well supported by staff who will do swabs for me and take direct admissions that are still awaiting swab results etc but i will definitely be Shielding in the next 6 weeks!

Hi, congratulations! I’m also an SLT, working in community neuro rehab. I’m 13 weeks tomorrow. Until 28 weeks I’m able to continue seeing patients face to face, with full PPE. The trust risk assessment document says from 28 weeks I should work from home, but I’m sure I’ve recently read elsewhere that no longer applies, but I’m not sure and a bit worried about it, especially with cases rising again. My manager is also pregnant, further along than me, and she thinks we’re at least able to come into the office even if we don’t see patients. I asked my midwife and she seemed to think it’s only the last ~5 weeks that we should work from home. Essentially, I’m a bit clueless!

I'm confused with this also as it appears the guidance may have changed on 9th sept.