Closure of the staff COVID-19 advice line

As we continue to learn to live with COVID-19 we will be closing the staff COVID-19 advice line from 12 noon on Sunday 3^rd July. 

If you have any questions relating to COVID-19 following this you should speak to your line manager in the first instance.

If you are absent from work due to COVID-19 (symptoms or a positive test), you will need to report this to your line manager / person in charge as you would do with any other sickness. 
 

There is no other change to the current Trust guidance around testing and isolation. The latest version of the flowchart can be found here. 
 

We would like to say a big thank you to the staff COVID-19 advice line team who have provided help and advice to so many colleagues throughout the pandemic.  

Information for managers - COVID-19 absence reporting: 

From 12 noon on Sunday 3^rd July, managers will need to record any absence due to COVID-19 on ESR and Health Roster.

The first 10 days of absence must be recorded as ‘medical suspension’. If the staff member if still absent this will revert to ‘sickness absence’ from day 11 onwards.

In line with our attendance management policy, colleagues should keep in regular contact with line managers while off sick. 

PLEASE NOTE - All COVID-19 related absences must be recorded in ESR. If you record COVID-19 absence in Health Roster you must record in ESR as well.

The absence should be recorded as open ended on the first day of absence and then closed when the staff member returns to work.

• A guide on recording medical suspension on ESR can be found here.
• A guide on recording medical suspension on Health Roster can be found here.

Doctors in Training:

Doctors in training must continue to contact the Medical Roster Team if they need to report any sickness absence (including covid-19). The team is available Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm on 0191 2024038. Out of hours they should contact the switchboard and speak to the site manager.

Updated guidance for pregnant colleagues – COVID-19:

We have simplified our guidance for pregnant employees to support managers undertaking risk assessments in relation to COVID-19.

You can download the flowchart here.

Key highlights:

The flowchart has been amended to provide guidance for colleagues who have relevant risk factors and those who do not. The stage of pregnancy (i.e. before or after 26 weeks) no longer applies.

Pregnant employees who have significant risk factors will need to be referred to occupational health for a risk assessment. The referral form can be downloaded here.

Managers should complete the form and return it to stsft.ochealth@nhs.net.