Last updated on January 4th, 2022 at 03:31 pm
Please remember to check the Staff Covid Website (password STHKcovid19) for all the latest Covid related guidance and information.
In today’s update:
- UPDATE TO SELF-ISOLATION GUIDANCE
- SELF-ISOLATION HUB – OPENING TIMES OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
- MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR NHS WORKERS
- SELF-ISOLATION – MANDATORY TRAINING REQUIREMENT
UPDATE TO SELF-ISOLATION GUIDANCE
Staff are advised that the Self-isolation Guidance has been updated in line with national guidance.
If a staff member receives a positive PCR test result for COVID-19, they must complete a period of self-isolation. The isolation period includes the day the symptoms started or the day their PCR test was taken if they do not have symptoms.
This isolation period has reduced from 10 days to 7 days.
Staff must undertake an LFD test on the sixth day and seventh day of their isolation period (24 hours apart). If both these LFD test results are negative, they may return to work on day 8 under the following conditions:
- the staff member should not have any COVID-19 symptoms
- the staff member should be at least double vaccinated against COVID-19
- the staff member should continue to undertake daily LFD tests on day 8, 9 and 10 of their isolation period. If any of these LFD test results are positive the staff member should isolate and should wait 24 hours before taking the next LFD test
- if the LFD test is positive on the 10th day, please contact the Self-Isolation Team for advice
- on days the staff member is working, the LFD test should be taken prior to beginning their shift, as close as possible to the start time
- the staff member must continue to comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE must be worn properly throughout the day
- if the staff member works with patients or residents who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 (as determined by the organisation), a risk assessment should be undertaken, and consideration given to redeployment for the remainder of the 10 day isolation period
If any of the above cannot be met, the staff member should not come to work and should follow the stay at home guidance for the full 10-day period.
To view the updated guidance in full, click the following link: https://covid.sthk.nhs.uk/self-isolation-guidance/ (password: STHKcovid19)
SELF-ISOLATION HUB – OPENING TIMES OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Please see below the purposed self-isolation team rota for Christmas and New Year.
| Xmas and New Year Rota | Christmas Eve | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Monday 27th December (Bank Holiday) | Tuesday 28th December (Bank Holiday) | Wednesday 29th December | Thursday 30th December | Friday 31st December | Saturday 1st January | Saturday 2nd January | Monday 3rd January (Bank Holiday) |
| Nurse Triage | 09:00 – 17:00 | Closed | Closed | 09:00 – 17:00 | 09:00 – 17:00 | 09:00 – 17:00 | 09:00 – 17:00 | 09:00 – 17:00 | Closed | Closed | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Swabbing | 08:30 – 16:30 | Closed | Closed | 08:30 – 16:30 | 08:30 – 16:30 | 08:30 – 16:30 | 08:30 – 16:30 | 08:30 – 16:30 | Closed | Closed | 08:30 – 16:30 |
Out of Hours Swabbing Options
- Staff can arrange their own swab at a local testing centre – Operating times over Christmas may vary. Book a PCR test online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
Staff must provide proof of the PCR result to their line manager as soon as it is received from the national system.
- Staff can be swabbed at the hospital (off site in the carpark) by a colleague who can take the sample to microbiology. The swabbed staff member must not come into the building or take the sample to Microbiology themselves. All swabs should be marked with HWWB. Please ensure you include full personal identifiable information is included, including a mobile phone number. The staff member will receive the result via text and this should be shared with their line manager as soon as it is received.
Managers must continue to refer to the self-isolation team if staff arrange their own swab or are swabbed by a colleague, as this will enable the Self-isolation Team to contact the member of staff, chase results and give advice.
MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR NHS WORKERS
The UK Government has announced that from 1st April 2022, it will be mandatory for all staff working in direct contact with patients (clinical and non-clinical staff) to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
As well as front-line workers who deliver care directly to patients, the legal changes also apply to certain non-clinical workers who, whilst not directly involved in patient care, may have direct face-to-face contact with patients.
This applies to all individuals who are carrying out work within the Trust, such as students, volunteers, bank/agency staff and contractors.
This means that you will need to have had the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 3rd February 2022 at the very latest and the second by 31st March 2022, unless you are clinically exempt.
If we do not have an up-to-date vaccination status for you, we will be writing to you explaining to you how to update your records. More information about this will be shared with you in the new year.
Self-isolation – Mandatory Training
Staff who are at home either awaiting the results of a PCR Test or isolating are encouraged to complete their mandatory training. Moodle can be accessed on any of your own personal devices, e.g. smart phone, ipad/tablet using your normal log in username and password
To access Moodle from home, click on the following link using your AD/STHK/windows credentials and navigating to mandatory and core training
https://elearning.shk.nhs.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=1565