Will the 28 weeks pregnant shielding advice change in the next few months.

[Klprr93]

I was just wondering I work in a hospital and at the min I will be shielding from 28 weeks which will be beginning of May as adviced for occupational health. They said unless 'significant changes to government guidelines' does anyone think this will change by May. I not bothered either way, there is pros and cons to both. it just be nice to have an idea whether I will be at home or not.

Nobody knows, but I would say it's highly unlikely. The earliest I could see it changing is when the final step is done (currently slated for 21st June, but may be later) and all restrictions are eased. I imagine if you were already 32/34 weeks and WFH they possibly wouldn't bring you back in for a couple of weeks if advice does change before you go off on mat leave either, but employers do weird things sometimes

You don't have to shield at any point in your pregnancy, as long as you don't have any other underlying health conditions.

Your work need to ensure you can be socially distanced, and if they can't do that, they must make arrangements for you to wfh or be at home.

You don't have to "shield" in the normal sense of the word eg cannot leave the house...

@jemimafuddleduck I didn't mean shield as in the sense of someone vulnerable, I meant work from home, I work in scanning and this includes covid patients. I am aware I am not vulnerable and do not need to stay at home

@planBea yeh that is what I thought. I wasn't sure how it would work out with the last lift being June. I woudnt mind going back if I had to. Just be nice to know but guess I will just have to wait and see.

I’ve been told from week 28 I have to shield Nhs role as well that’s face to face normally in hospital setting.

@Absc how far are you now? My manager is saying with restrictions getting lifted it may change before May but going on guidelines now I will have to stay at home. I'm normally face to face but they are going to get me to do admin. Confirm appointments, check safety for scans ect so it isn't to bad if it does happen.

I’m on about to turn 12 weeks so it’s not until end of June for me I have to go on leave. The manager said it would still be the same then when I questioned this.

@Absc ohh right. Yeh I was thinking the risk won't reduce. I'm guessing you didn't get the first jab before finding out? Everyone around me has had the jab but me. Oh your 12 week scan coming up? :) exciting. I am counting down the days for my 20 week scan.

@Klprr93 no I haven’t had the jab yet same as you everyone I work with has had it now. I have my scan next Sunday. However due to complex health I’ve already had four scans so far.

I’m dreading the idea of being off I enjoy being at work and hated trying to do assessments online etc. But I also know being in a hospital will add more risks of catching COVID-19 which is more dangerous in last trimester.

Pregnancy isn’t a contraindication for vaccine if you are at high risk from medical conditions or environment and you would like to have it

It doesn't make any difference whether you've had the vaccine or not. If you're in the NHS, once you're 28 weeks you can't work face to face in any patient facing role. Doesn't mean you can't be at work at all - you could be redeployed to a non patient facing team or work from home. This is national guidance so will only change when the government changes it unfortunately. I am in the same boat and keeping my fingers crossed it changes, but doubt it will 😢.

I can't imagine it being changed before June 21st. But it is hard to tell when the government will feel confident to change this rule due to new variants etc
I for one hope the rule remains ( or at least the option to work from home at 28 weeks ) for a long time yet as too many employers are happy to ignore the risks to pregnant women and force them to work in areas they are not comfortable with.

@Loti92 yeh I never thought about what they did last time. Makes sense. Yeh I don't want the vaccine just because I don't think I am clinically vulnerable. I am hoping I am off. I don't work for the NHS. I work in a NHS hospital but the scanning unit is privately owned. My company are happy for me to do admin at home as at 28 weeks If that's still the rule. Good luck with your pregnancy too. We must be due very similar time.

Hi all

This seems to be updated 7 days ago? Does it now mean that only work from home if clinically vunerable and pregnant or is the message still the same as before