Published on: 18 July 2022

Updated guidance – COVID-19 staff testing and isolation 

As we continue to learn to live with COVID-19, the Trust has further updated guidance for staff around testing and isolation. Key to this guidance is the continued and robust use of PPE at all times.  

You can find the guidance in full below. You can also download the staff testing and isolation flowchart here. 

Staff isolation due to COVID-19 contact (household and non-household) 

If you come into contact with COVID-19 (whether within or outside your household) you can attend work as normal if you are asymptomatic and have had no temperature for 48 hours (if temperature was present). 

When attending work you must: 

  1. Ensure that you follow all guidance in relation to PPE and infection, prevention and control procedures. 
  2. Wear a surgical mask in all areas of the Trust*. If you are delivering direct patient care (where there is physical contact) an FFP3 mask must be worn. This should continue until day 11. 
  3. If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19 you must inform your manager / person in charge and leave work immediately. You can return when you feel well enough to do so and after 48 hours of no temperature. When returning to work you must follow the IPC guidance outlined in points 1- 4) 
  4. You must not work shifts in B28, renal, OHDU or the Phoenix Unit until you are at day 6, asymptomatic and have a negative LFT. Up to day 11 an FFP3 mask must be worn throughout your shift within these areas. (If the high risk areas listed above are your normal base area, you can be redeployed to other areas up to day 6.  This gives the operational team flexibility to move staff and return to usual base at day 6). 

 

Staff testing for COVID-19  

If you have no symptoms of COVID-19 you do not need to do any LFT testing, unless: 

  • You are required to visit care homes. In this case you should continue with twice weekly LFT testing. 

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you must undertake a LFT test: 

1.    If your LFT is negative you can attend work as normal as long as you have no temperature and are feeling well enough to do so. If you have a temperature you must wait until this is normal for 48 hours before you return to work. You must continue to follow all Trust PPE and IPC guidance. 

 

2.    If your LFT is positive you must contact your line manager / person in charge. You can return to work when you feel well enough to do so and have not had a temperature in 48 hours (if a temperature was present).  

 

 Up until day 11 you must: 

  • Ensure that you follow all guidance in relation to PPE and infection, prevention and control procedures. 
  • wear a surgical face mask in all areas of the Trust* 
  • wear an FFP3 mask if you are delivering direct patient care (where there is physical contact) 
  • not work shifts in B28, Phoenix unit, Renal Unit, OHDU up to day 11 (unless there is a patient safety risk when Medical Director approval is required) 
  •  

All staff can return to normal duties at day 11 as per normal process. 

*Please note that wearing a surgical face mask is the minimum PPE requirement when you return to work (unless delivering direct patient care). Any colleague who wishes to wear enhanced PPE is supported to do so.  

Colleagues who have returned to work are reminded to keep a social distance in shared and communal areas during rest and lunchtimes as per our normal IPC procedure. This should be followed until day 11. 

Thank you for your continued support.

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