Not allowed in with colds, sickness etc

[Jackieyoulooknice]

I work in a hospital, we aren't allowed in with colds, coldsores, d+v etc. we definitely aren't allowed in with d+v but I can't see anything on the policy about colds or coldsores but if we call up and say "i have a cold am i ok to come in?" the answer from management is no.

So, what do we do? I won't say where I work because it's outing but it's with very vulnerable patients and I don't think they/their families would be too pleased if we go in coughing and sneezing.

But, our absence policy is absolutely rubbish. I have caught d+v from doctors at work twice in the last year, I know as they've mentioned at work they have an off tummy.

There's no alternative work like admin we can do at work, as I asked last time when I had an awful cough/cold. But I don't see why I should take this as sickness when in the winter the amount of times we all catch coughs/colds because we are in a hospital where ill people are, and I am 100% willing to work through the illness.

What do other people do? If we have every cold off we will definitely trigger a stage 1.

I can see why they can’t have vulnerable patients being exposed to germs but from an employee perspective it seems like an issue with the policy.
If they are instructing you not to come in I don’t see how it can be classed as sickness if these circumstances are not covered in your absence policy. In a job where you’re not dealing with vulnerable patients you would be expected to work with a cold. I would ask them to email you with the instruction not to come in then argue it shouldn’t be classed as sickness.

What do you other places like yours do? I wonder if you work in a hospice and they must have common ways of working.

It's the same policy in our local hospital in certain wards. I wasn't allowed in to scbu to see my babies when I had a stinking cold, fucking shit, but sensible.

I work in a nicu. D&V is the only thing that prevents us from coming to work policy wise.

@321cheese it's sort of like intensive care. From what I can gather, other places have the same policies but their absence policies aren't crap.

Wow please don't go to work if you have D&V or anything more than a snuffle- it would put vulnerable patients at risk.

This is such a common issue with my NHS clients.

Not allowed to come in, despite feeling OK to work. Told to go home but then disciplined for it.

It’s maddening!

Will you be paid if excluded because of this policy or not?

That is the important factor to be considered here I think.

Is it a nnu? For colds/cols sores we do office work.

You might find your infection control nurse / manual is more helpful. In my trust everyone knows it's 48 hours post D&V but there is also guidance on some other conditions such as herpes virus in the IC manual.

Official policy where I am (hospital working with poorly babies). Is just for 72 hours after d&v. Still come in with terrible colds,etc. And I know plenty of staff ignore the d&v rule as they're worried about being sacked.

Ask infection control and occy health for the policy, putting vulnerable patients at risk is irresponsible, any staff ignoring the d&V precautions is terrible, don't they understand the consequences. If it's a high risk environment you work in do you really want patients to catch a cold or virus.

Try working in a private care home like me. We have to stay away if we have a cold etc but we do not get paid for it so some people still go in with a cold etc especially if no management around which there often isn't

Yes it's a nnu. We can't do office work. It's really stressing me out as I have 3 children that are always bringing illnesses into the house. I'm happy to work ill but don't know how I'm supposed to limit myself to 5 days in 12 months when we even get sent home. For colds.

Sounds like you need to talk to your manager to clarify things and talk over your worries.

I wish our work had this. Last year people kept coming in who were clearly too ill to be there, all heavy colds. Every single person ended up ill and it just lingered about for ages because everyone insisted on still coming in. It was awful. As soon as I felt it, I went home, rested for a couple of days and was fine again. It's very annoying to get illnesses that you know you could avoid if people actually went off sick.

We don't have the staff in our nicu to be able to send people home when they're unwell. (D&V excluded) so the choice is nurse with a cold etc or no nurse! Surely that's pretty common though? Where do ye all get extra staff to cover every time someone has a cold??