Working through Covid?

[Megellen]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed back in 2015 and had 6 months of chemo back in 2016 , all good results and bloods still good!

I am a nurse and work for the NHS on a busy rehab ward, I was shielded by the trust I work for back in March as the ward was taking Covid patients and they put me in a high category.I returned to work in sept, and have been told I will not be shielded this time and downgraded me? Not sure what the difference being this time around, although at present we are Covid free on the ward.

Just wondered what your thoughts on this and if anyone is in a similar position?

Thank you ...

[Havemercy]

As someone who has just retired from my NHS nursing role as I considered that a hospital environment would be too risky ( am presently on FLAIR trial) I am shocked by the fact that you have been "downgraded" by your Trust. If it were me I would be talking to the Royal College ( if you are a member) as your union for some advice and support. Maybe appeal to Human Resources and also get your consultant onside . Did you get the Shielding letter or email - as it says that you are able to use the Letter as "evidence that you cannot work outside your home until 2nd December" Good luck and best wishes.

[Havemercy in reply to Havemercy]

Actually Occupational Health not Human Resources

[Megellen in reply to Havemercy]

Thank you and no I didn’t get one from the government, this was just the trust shielding me , I will give employee health a call and see what they say .hope you get on ok with the trial.

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to Havemercy]

I agree and as someone with the protection of automatically being classed as ‘disabled’ under the Equality Act, this downgrading could be considered to be highly discriminatory Megellen.

Good luck!

Newdawn

[stewie]

Hi Megellen

You really need to go back to Occy Health , I know they have been using the welsh risk assessment tool universally in the NHS and you are in a vulnerable group . I also work in the NHS in England in a community hospital , mainly rehab for the elderly and a hospice ward

I shielded back in march but went back late July , they told me on Friday last week not go in on the Saturday all shielded group from before was included . I'm sill off at present I work has a porter did my nurse training 2005 onwards but decided after being diagnosed 2011 I could do with out the stress of the job so not all down to the diagnosis.

I'm still off at the moment they may put me on the transport collecting samples from GP surgeries but do not want me working with in the hospital ( face to face contact ) , so you really do need to question this

All the best

Stewie

[stewie in reply to stewie]

Ps I eventually got a shielding letter but only after getting in touch with NHS twice few months in to shielding .

[fapumpkin]

This is from the uk gov website, an update (11 Nov, 2020) for the Clinically Extremely vulnerable:

"Work

You are strongly advised to work from home. If you cannot work from home, you should not attend work for this period of restrictions.

If you cannot attend work for this reason, you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit. Other eligibility criteria will apply. The formal shielding notification you receive may act as evidence for your employer or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that you are advised to follow shielding guidance and should not work outside of your home for the period stated in the letter.

If you were on payroll before 30 October 2020, you may also be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (on furlough), which is being extended until 31 March 2021. Speak to your employer if you think you are eligible.

Other people you live with who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves can still attend work if they cannot work from home, in line with the wider rules set out in the new national restrictions from 5 November."

[bennevisplace]

Hi Megellen. The government info posted by fapumpkin is your best starting point. Two questions feed into that.

1. Are you classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable? The answer may depend on where in the UK you live and work, as in Wales and Scotland the wording of the NHS definition "...at any stage of treatment" was being interpreted to exclude blood cancer patients on watch and wait and post treatment. The same definition is still there under UK government guidance, but crucially in July NHS England made it clear that those other patients were to be regarded as CEV too. In NI I don't know which definition applies.

If you are CEV then you should have received the shielding email and/or letter from Matt Hancock (though not having received it could easily be administrative oversight).

If you are CEV the government advice is clear: you should stay at home at least until 2 December or until the current lockdown ends.

Even if you are not CEV under the umbrella definition, your consultant may take the view that actually, even 4 years post chemo, you are. He or she should then say so in a letter to the Trust and let the Trust wrestle with the decision whether to keep you at work or send you home.

2. When the Trust allowed you to shield in March, were you in effect furloughed? If so you should be eligible for furlough again, according to government guidance for employers.

Hope this helps.

[Megellen]

Thank you for all your comments , I’m going to look further into this.