Emergency Theatres - NHS Position

[TheElders2014]

I'm currently 4-5 weeks pregnant, I stupidly resigned from a role within the NHS after accepting a position with Emergency Theatres, but have been advised due to chemicals and stuff I cannot take the role?

Obviously it leaves me in a position where I could get onto the bank, but it means 1-3 weeks out of work, meaning I have to declare my pregnancy for any new role too - has anyone experienced working in Theatres whilst pregnant and early pregnancy?

Would love to hear some more reassuring stories x

I worked in theatres whilst pregnant and tbh it was difficult.

Couldn't touch formalin because it's formaldehyde, so couldn't take samples when I wasn't scrubbed up.

Wasn't allowed to move patients at all so that was difficult

Wasn't allowed to scrub for more than 2 hours at a time because you don't move

Wasn't allowed to be run theatre when the c arm and X-ray was used.

Wasn't allowed to be present in theatre when the patient had been put to sleep using just gas.

However ! My team at the time were lovely and picked up the slack. It's certainly doable

This will give you an idea. www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/media/v3xn3uxj/foi-response-f4269.pdf

Or search the trust you work for and pregnancy risk assessment and theatresand you should find it

I think @ProclivityForPyrotechnics has covered everything quite comprehensively!

I'm in obstetric theatres, which isn't quite as intense as regular emergency theatres. Rare that we ever need to touch formalin for example. And certainly no radiation! Moving patients was still ok, but once my colleagues knew I was pregnant, they would either force me to only be on the feet end of the patient, or not moving and handling at all. In fact my colleagues were amazing in general in looking after me while pregnant.

I'm only a support worker, so not subject to rules around being scrubbed for 2+ hours. But then it's rare any obstetric procedure where you need full scrubs takes longer than that anyway We always make sure there's a stool available for any pregnant staff anyway. I had no idea about gas induction. Not often that comes up anyway.

Take the role! This exact scenario happened to one of my colleagues. We rallied around her. Pregnancy and maternity leave is such a short amount of time in the scheme of things. You'll be able to do it all once you get back.

Hi!

Firstly congratulations! Very exciting.

who said you couldn’t take the role? I haven’t worked in theatres so don’t know the environment that well but I’ve worked in the nhs as manager and we’ve always just done risk assessments in each trimester and made adjustments according the the risks. I wouldn’t say you absolutely can’t take the role and if it’s the job you want definitely don’t give it up! It would just need some changes to make sure things were safe. Also don’t think you need to declare a pregnancy in early stages during a job interview process etc if you decide looking for another job is better.

don't know if any of that was helpful at all! Hope it all works out for you in the end ✨

@ProclivityForPyrotechnics Thank you so much, luckily enough which I forgot to mention in the post is I'm a HCA/HCSW, so I'd be in Emergency Theatres and Obstetrics too. So I suppose I wouldn't be doing as much as a nurse anyway in that respect.
I've completed an occupational health form last week, I need to wait for them to get back to me with what they want to do with me next.
Obviously I think it will be difficult, especially the standing for long hours etc but I suppose the rules are there for a reason. x

@Hello47 Thanks for your comment, originally my friend who works as a HCA and has been in the trust just over 15+ years was saying about the chemicals and long hours etc. Obviously I think with occupational health now involved, risk assessments will be carried out.
I was able to speak to the Practice Development Team Lead last week, who said I should pop in for a chat as I would be working across Obstetrics and ET, but could more primarily be based in Obstetrics as I'm pregnant anyway.

It is a massive shock and I did ask for my role back in Pre-Assessment, but my notice wasn't able to be rescinded. But we shall see!x

@Dyra Hello! Thank you for your post on the thread, so I'm a HCSW/HCA in the trust and would be probably doing something similar.
Emergency Theatres and Emergency Obstetrics is where I'd be based, so I suppose primarily to keep me safe, they'd look at obstetrics anyway.
I've had an occupational health form, I put down I'm pregnant and they'll apparently get back to me with an update. I've been offered a chance to pop into the practice development team, who I spoke to the manager about my pregnancy and said lots of people are pregnant within the Theatres setting, so I just have to be careful!! x