Coronavirus: NHS preparing for workforce shortages caused by test and trace system
Hospital chiefs told to minimise close contact between workers amid fears services could be hit by manpower problems in coming months
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NHS services including hospitals and GP surgeries could be disrupted because of workforce shortages caused by staff needing to quarantine under the NHS test and trace system.
Heath chiefs have warned administrators to plan how they can continue to run services in the event large numbers of staff are forced to self-isolate at home after being identified as close contacts of someone who tests positive for coronavirus.
During the height of the pandemic, about 12 per cent of NHS staff were off sick with the virus and many more self-isolated, heaping even more pressure on hospitals.
In a letter to NHS chief executives and GPs on Tuesday, NHS England’s chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard and chief nurse Ruth May urged hospitals to do more to prevent the spread of the virus within their halls.
Under the new NHS test and trace system a person who tests positive for the virus will share details of those they have been in contact with – those people will then be expected to quarantine for up to 14 days.
Across the NHS there is concern that many staff are regularly in close proximity to each other, sharing small offices and rest areas. Hospital chiefs are worried whole teams could be sidelined due to quarantine rules.
The letter to hospitals stressed: “Where a member of NHS staff tests positive for coronavirus, the starting point is that the test and trace self-isolation rules apply as anywhere else, and close contacts must self-isolate if the NHS test and trace service advises them to do so.”
This rule will not apply where staff were wearing personal protective equipment.
It added: “Where a member of staff has come into contact outside work with someone who has subsequently tested positive for coronavirus, NHS staff are subject to the same test and trace protocols as all other members of the public.
“If a healthcare professional or another member of your team is contacted by the test and trace service and advised to self-isolate for 14 days, they must do so. We recognise this may be challenging, but it is an important part of our collective response to the pandemic.”
Hospitals will be expected to report how many staff are absent because of Covid-19 as well as how many are self-isolating as a result of the test and trace service.
NHS England added: “They should also report where staff absence has resulted in service disruptions, cancellations, etc. To prepare for potential staff absence, organisations should review their existing business continuity plans and take actions as required.
“Where, as a consequence of reduced staffing, organisations are considering temporary service reductions (part or all) they should discuss with the regional incident coordination centre without delay and implement appropriate business continuity measures or mutual aid.”
GPs were told to ensure they had plans in place to maintain patient access within their local networks.
Within hospitals, staff have been told to maintain social distancing of two metres wherever possible in non-clinical areas. From Monday, all staff in hospitals will be expected to wear face masks.
The letter added: “Close contact between staff over prolonged periods should be minimised; for example, by avoiding congregating at central work stations, restricting the number of staff on ward rounds, conducting handover sessions in a setting where there is space for social distancing, moving to ‘virtual’ multi-disciplinary team meetings, and considering staggering staff breaks to limit the density of healthcare workers in specific areas.”
During the height of the outbreak the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said hospitals had become hotspots for transmission of the virus, with significant transfer between staff and patients that had masked falls in community infections.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments