Corona in work place

[lilly02]

I need some advice.
I'm working in a care home and many residents and staff are getting corona. They are still doing there best to protect me as I am not allocated to the isolated residents.
Even though this helps I'm still around it as the results take around 4 days to come back. So residents who we think are negative are actually positive!
Is there any help I can get if I take time off?
This will be unpaid and I don't have any holiday left.
Are there any rules or regulations about pregnant women working with corona?
I'm so worried.
Many thanks.

Goodness! There must be a way you can work with lower risk residents. Have they done a risk assessment?

Or anything you can do 'behind the scenes' so no contact with residents and limited contact with PPE with other staff?
Sorry I don't work in a care home and I'm sure these are silly suggestions.

@StealthPolarBear
there are residents on every single floor that has corona! So I can't get away from it.
I'm not doing the isolated residents but I am still at risk as I'm helping residents who are negative but when there test results come back they've been positive!!! So I can't get away from it x

And no there's nothing really behind the scenes I can do! We do have PPE but I just feel so worried x

Yes :( I was actually thinking they could redeploy you, admin, laundry, cooking? I'm sure that's not what you want but might be the best compromise

Sorry x post
Hopefully someone who is in a similar situation will have some ideas

I have had a similar situation to yourself in that I’m an icu nurse. I am off work now as I had to go off at 28 weeks but on our unit I was allowed to work up until then and carry on pretty much as usual. The main difference was similar to you if a patient had confirmed corona then I would be allocated elsewhere where possible but I still took admissions and people awaiting results without symptoms....which obviously some came back as positive.
In my risk assessment it was deemed ok for me to take corona patients as long as I was wearing the correct ppe. I think this is partly due to being in the lower risk category before the third trimester (unless you have underlying conditions). I do sort of agree with this as I feel if the ppe is suitable for everyone else then no reason it wouldn’t work for me too. I was just really careful in wearing it and following procedures etc. I will note due to being in icu we wore full gowns, ffp3 masks, taped long gloves and visors so I def felt more protected than the surgical masks other areas are using!
If you feel uncomfortable definitely talk to your employer.

How many weeks are you ? Can you start mat leave? Are you paid if signed off sick ? Rcog have guidance too ( this is basic version but links to full included www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-09-10-occupational-health-statement-rcog-rcm-fom.pdf) and discusses suspension on full pay if can’t make suitable changes etc

How pregnant are you?

Have they done a risk assessment for you? This should be done anyways even without covid for every pregnant employee, but in this instance should also cover what extra steps they need to put in place.

Do you have any older children? If so you could request unpaid parental leave. To reassure you though, I think the caution around pregnant women is very much precautionary rather than because the risks are known to be high. If you have any colleagues over 60 they're likely to be at a much higher risk than you.

Honestly, in your position, I would probably ly get signed off by my doctor with stress or anxiety - all the worry can't be great for you or baby

@HMR2019
Yes defo similar situation. We are given the blue masks, visor, short normal gloves and a apron, I just don't feel protected but maybe I'm just being over the top. I'll just continue to follow procedure and hope for the best! Good luck with everything x

@Honeydukesmum I am 13 weeks pregnant so no I can't start mat leave. And no I'm paid statuary sick pay which is a matter of pounds a day if I go off sick.
Thankyou for this link I will read and get back to you x

Ask about maternity suspension whilst the risk is high, full pay.
I'm 27 weeks and work in a nursing home and they decided this was only option to keep me and the baby safe.

@lilly02 yeah I think I def felt better with the fact we had to wear the full fitted masks and full body gowns etc. Also, when I went off at 28 weeks it’s on full pay and I don’t start my mat leave until about 37 weeks. They should do this for you as I think the RCOG guidance is you have to be in a non-patient facing role from then onwards or shielding at home if this can’t be done. And I’m not sure whether they are allowed to force you to start mat leave early, not sure if you’re nhs or not but they didn’t make me which is good!
Thanks! I hope your pregnancy goes well too and that you manage to talk to someone at work to sort out a situation that you’re comfortable with!