Pregnant hcp's and covid

[Thisistherhythmofthenight]

So I'm 17+1 with baby number 3.
I'm a nurse and before becoming pregnant had worked on covid wards with correct PPE no problem.
Now I am pregnant I do not wish to be in contact with any patient regardless of whether the area is covid free or not. I've read all the guidance which states 'women of all gestations should be stringent with social distancing'. I've not had a risk assessment done yet as I've been off sick with hyperemesis. I feel like we are the dummy run to see if our children turn out OK plus we can't have the vaccine. I'm just a bit tired of all the nonsense tbh. I don't feel safe. I'm also a bank nurse aswell so less fucks are given about us than contracted staff.

I work in a hospital and my line manager has been so supportive. I'm only allowed to do my patient facing clinics up until 28 weeks and currently feel quite safe doing this. If numbers were to increase then I may feel differently but I didnt want special treatment based on the (limited) evidence available. Speak to occupational health and see what the advice is for your Trust but I know mine is quite clear on when you must stop working patient facing and thats not until 3rd trimester.

I work in the community- I saw patients face to face up until 28 weeks and have been working from home since then. It coincided with the start of the current lockdown and rise in cases, so was glad.

I think pregnant patient facing nhs staff are advised to get the vaccine. Or at least are allowed it. I didn’t have it because I had already stopped seeing patients when my team were offered it.

Yeah my midwife said they are offering it if you are high risk but she advised against it whilst pregnant and I'm not taking chances. I'd quite happily have it if I wasn't pregnant. I'm also ward based so obviously don't book onto covid wards but many patients end up becoming positive on the so called 'clean' wards. There aren't opportunities to book shifts in a clinic style environment. Bank staff aren't looked after like contracted staff. Technically I have no line manager. I have spoken to HR and awaiting a reply from them. Contracted staff at the trust I work at have been removed from the floor regardless of gestation and occupational health said I am entitled to the same rights as contracted staff. @FirstTimeMummy2021 I get not wanting special treatment based on limited evidence but to me that's like saying oh well we don't know if its bad or good but off you pop and we'll see what happens. I've said in previous threads NHS treats its staff like trash. You are lucky to have a supportive line manager. Management at my trust is horrendous and has made local papers for bullying x

I'm sorry to hear your Trust is so unsupportive. Its supposed to be an exciting time being pregnant but all of the covid restrictions aren't helping with that.

My midwife said similar about the vaccine, particularly because I dont have any other health risks so I felt uncomfortable having it with so little data.

Our trust have moved vulnerable staff to clean wards, but I completely understand what you're saying about patients still then testing positive. If the cases are still high and they can't accommodate moving you then I'd be interested what occupational health suggest!

I have been having the exact same issue. My ward is a full covid positive ward and I haven’t yet had a my risk assessments done. I have been asking for one for on several occassions for 10 weeks. I feel I’m getting no support from anywhere I turn. HR are only concerned with getting my risk assessment done so the trust covers it’s back. And occy health, While lovely just said well they can’t offer advise on an individual basis without the risk assessment being done. The guidance says we should adhere to strict social distancing, which is impossible do to when providing complex personal care which takes more then one person, and to avoid caring for covid and suspected covid patients, how can I do that if the whole ward is positive? I’m waiting for contact from management as to how to move foward but so far minimal contact has been made on their part.

@ExcitingTimes2021 its awful isn't it. We are literally just numbers. Risk assessments are just a tick box exercise that I think are filled out to meet the needs of the trust. HR for NHSP are abysmal and no one gives a straight answer. I know for sure if I was a ward manager I would not be letting my pregnant staff be working on the floor. Yes we would be short but plenty of agency and bank staff to use.