Today’s update is below
- Scrubs
- Self-Isolation information and process
SCRUBS
Staff are reminded to wear one set of scrubs per shift and only change if they become soiled.
Scrubs are to be left at the hospitals and cleaned by our laundry service The process is as follows:
- Place used scrubs in white linen bag
- Put this in disposal hold
- The scrubs are then collected, cleaned and put back into circulation
- Do not leave scrubs on the floor or anywhere else
SELF-ISOLATION INFORMATION AND PROCESSES
Please see below information relating to the different types of situation that may require you to self-isolate. Below is a step by step process for each scenario.
SYMPTOMATIC STAFF MEMBER
1 – You and your entire household must self-isolate immediately (14 days for the household and 10 for the positive person)
2 – Inform your line manager immediately
3 – Your manager will complete a self-isolation form and refer to the Self-isolation Team
4 – A swab test will be arranged if you meet the criteria – tests are by appointment only and will be arranged by the Self-isolation Team
5 – If the test is negative for Covid-19 you must return to work
6 – If the test is positive you should continue to self-isolate for 10 days after the symptoms started. Your household members should remain in self isolation for 14 days from the start of your symptoms.
7 – Once the 10 day self-isolation period has ended you should return to work, as long as you are well and without a fever for 48 hours.
A cough and/or change in sense of smell/taste may remain for several weeks, but this does not prevent you returning to work.
Please note, staff who are severely immunocompromised who work within the Haematology inpatient ward/Lilac Centre or within theatres and Sanderson Suite at St Helens must have a negative test (taken after completion of self isolation) before returning to work. This will be arranged via the Self-Isolation Team.
All other staff who have previously tested positive for COVID by swab (not the antibody test) are exempt from being retested within a period of 90 days from when their initial symptoms began, unless they develop new possible COVID-19 symptoms in which case they should be retested as above.
If you test positive for COVID by swab (not the antibody test) after 90 days from when your initial symptoms began and are found to be positive again, this should be considered as a possible new infection. If you have developed new possible COVID symptoms, you will need to self-isolate again. If, however, you are asymptomatic, please seek further advice from the Infection Prevention Team regarding whether another self-isolation period is required.
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ASYMPTOMATIC STAFF – If a staff member has no symptoms but is found to be positive for COVID-19 after a routine swab test or through the Siren Study (not the antibody test)
1 – Self-isolate immediately for 10 days from the date of the test (note this means the date your test was taken, not the date you received your result). Your household members must self isolate for 14 days from the date the test was taken.
2 – Inform your line manager immediately
3 – Once the 10 day self-isolation period has ended you should return to work.
Please note, staff working within the Haematology inpatient ward/Lilac Centre or within the cold elective surgical hub at St Helens must have a negative test (taken after completion of self isolation) before returning to work. This will be arranged via Self-Isolation Team.
If you develop symptoms during the initial 10 day isolation period, you must:
1 – Inform your line manager immediately
2 – The clock resetsand a new 10 day self-isolation period will begin from the date the symptoms developed
3 – Once this 10 day self-isolation period has ended you should return to work, as long as you are well and without a fever for 48 hours.
A cough and/or change in sense of smell/taste may remain for several weeks, but this does not prevent you returning to work.
Please note, staff who are severely immunocompromised who work within the Haematology inpatient ward/Lilac Centre or within theatres and Sanderson Suite at St Helens must have a negative test (taken after completion of self-isolation) before returning to work. This will be arranged via the Self-Isolation Team.
All other staff who have previously tested positive for COVID by swab (not the antibody test) are exempt from being retested within a period of 90 days from when their initial symptoms began, unless they develop new possible COVID-19 symptoms in which case they should be retested as above.
If you test positive for COVID by swab (not the antibody test) after 90 days from when your initial symptoms began and are found to be positive again, this should be considered as a possible new infection. If you have developed new possible COVID symptoms, you will need to self-isolate again. If, however, you are asymptomatic, please seek further advice from the Infection Prevention Team regarding whether another self-isolation period is required.
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IF A MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD DEVELOPS SYMPTOMS
1 – Entire household must self-isolate immediately (14 days for the household and 10 for the positive person)
2 – Inform your line manager at the earliest opportunity
3 – Your line manager will complete a self-isolation form and refer to the Self-isolation Team (each member of the household will need listing on the form including names/ dob and contact number)
4 – A swab test will be arranged for your symptomatic household member if they meet the criteria – tests are by appointment only and will be arranged by the Self-isolation Team. Testing is not required for asymptomatic people in the same household.
5 – If the household member’s test is negative for Covid-19 the entire household can stop self-isolating and you must return to work.
6 – If the household member’s test is positive they must self-isolate for 10 days from the date their symptoms started; the rest of the household must self-isolate for 14 days from the date the symptomatic household member’s symptoms started.
7 – Once the 14 day self-isolation period has ended you should return to work.
8 – If another member of the households develops symptoms within this isolation period, other members of the household do not need to extend their self-isolation.
If you develop symptoms during the initial 14 day isolation period, you must:
1 – Inform your line manager
2 – Your manager will complete a self-isolation form for you and refer you to the Self-isolation Team
3 – A swab test will be arranged if you meet the criteria for testing – tests are by appointment only and will be arranged by the Self-isolation Team
4 – If the test is negative for Covid-19 you must return to work
5 – 5.1 If the test is positive you should continue to self-isolate for 10 days after the symptoms started. Any further household members should continue with the 14 day self-isolation period from when the first household member developed symptoms
5.2 Once your 10 day self-isolation period has ended you should return to work, as long as you are well and without a fever for 48 hours.
5.3 A cough and/or change in sense of smell/taste may remain for several weeks, but this does not prevent you returning to work.
5.4 Please note, staff who are severely immunocompromised who work within the Haematology inpatient ward/Lilac Centre or within theatres and Sanderson Suite at St Helens must have a negative test (taken after completion of self-isolation) before returning to work. This will be arranged via Self-Isolation Team.
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IF A MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS TOLD TO SELF-ISOLATE AS A CONTACT OF ANOTHER KNOWN CASE BUT HAS NO SYMPTOMS (e.g. your child is sent home from school)
1 – You do not need to self-isolate with them, you can continue to come in to work
2 – If you have childcare issues, you should discuss this with your line manager, but this does not class as self-isolation, so you should not complete a self-isolation form [Please check with HR about how this needs to be recorded on ESR etc]
If your child / household member develops symptoms, please refer to the ‘If a member of your household develops symptoms’ section above
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IF YOU ARE NOTIFIED TO SELF-ISOLATE BY THE TEST AND TRACE SYSTEM/APP:
Contacts in work:
All staff are reminded that they MUST turn off the contact tracing within the Test and Trace app when in work.
If you are a contact of either a patient or staff member that tests positive, then the Trust’s own protocols should be followed, and you will be informed of required action by your line manager.
Contacts outside of work:
If you know who the contact is outside of work who has tested positive, you should:
1 – Self-isolate immediately
2 – Inform your line manager at the earliest opportunity to provide evidence of your isolation notification (this is usually a text message)
3 – Your line manager should complete a test and trace form
4 – If you know the date you were in contact with the person who tested positive, and this is different from the Test and Trace centre/app advice, you should contact the Infection Prevention Team for further advice on isolation period.
If you do not know the contact who tested positive, you should:
1 – Self-isolate immediately
2 – Inform your line manager at the earliest opportunity and provide evidence of your isolation notification (this is usually a text message or on the app)
3 – Your line manager should complete a test and trace form
4 – Self-isolate for 14 days, or the amount of days advised from the day you are notified by the Test and Trace System