General FAQs

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you’ll need to stay at home (or if currently at work, inform line manager and return home immediately). As long as you do not work on the Haematology inpatient ward (2A) or Lilac Centre:

There is no longer requirement to carry out a COVID test.
You should stay at home until you have not had a fever (if you had one) for at least 48 hours AND you no longer feel unwell.

If you have been tested (e.g. due to outbreak screening) and are positive, you must stay at home, not attend work and avoid contact with others for 5 full days following the date of onset of symptoms (which is day 0). You can return to work on day 6 if you have not had a fever (if you had one) for at least 48 hours AND you no longer feel unwell.

For staff working on the Haematology inpatient ward (2A) or Lilac Centre: please follow the guidance on the Staff Intranet page

The guidance provided by Public Health England is provided by clinical experts and should be the single source of advice followed.

Within their guidance they link to NHS guidance which can be found here.

To support our staff during this time all staff have access to 24/7 online or telephone confidential counselling from INSIGHT or telephone 0300 131 2067

Or you can self-refer to HWWB by emailing: hwwb.admin@sthk.nhs.uk

Additionally NHS Employers have information for staff wellbeing available here.

Yes. Effective 1^st September 2022, COVID absences are managed in line with the normal sickness absence arrangements and will count towards normal triggers. If you are able to work from home, you should do so. Individual cases will be assessed via your line manager and HR Department.

Where UKSHA principles apply (e.g. where there is an outbreak in a department), staff who are clinically well but who need to self-isolate in line with the UKHSA guidance will be supported to work from home in the first instance where possible. Where this is not possible, they will be on authorised absence and receive full pay as if at work. 

Normal sickness provisions as detailed in the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook for Agenda for Change (AfC) staff (section 14, England), will apply as usual.

Do:
Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
Always wash your hands when you get home or into work. Use hand sanitizer gel if soap and water are not available
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze. Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Don’t:
Touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

It may be possible to temporarily assign equipment for you to do so. Your manager will discuss with you how this can be achieved.

If this is a media request these should be directed to the Trust’s Communications Department, email kim.hughes@sthk.nhs.uk or call ext 7518.  Please do not comment directly on such matters.

In all other circumstances, anyone enquiring should be informed that the Trust are following business continuity measures and Public Health England guidelines.

Decisions on whether to close departments will be taken by the Executive Team and communicated by line managers accordingly.

All guidance on when and where staff should wear PPE is available here: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/what-to-wear-and-when/

The Trust will provide PPE where necessary. Normal office cleaning and sanitizing stocks will continue to be provided.

• GOV.UK: coronavirus action plan
• GOV.UK: information on coronavirus and the situation in the UK
• NHS England: coronavirus information for health professionals