RCOG welcomes updated COVID-19 working guidance

Government and NHS guidance has been changed and now allows health and care staff with COVID-19 positive household contacts to work, if the staff member is fully vaccinated and is testing negative.

This letter provides a summary of the latest guidelines for healthcare professionals and outlines what they should do if they come in contact with a confirmed or suspected Omicron variant case.

The guidance says:

Staff who are contacts of someone confirmed COVID-19 positive:

• must stay at home and self-isolate if not fully vaccinated
• if fully vaccinated (i.e. have received two vaccine doses and are 14 days
  post second vaccination) should arrange a PCR test and can return to work
  if it is confirmed negative (if positive, isolate for 10 days). If negative,
  should complete daily lateral flow tests before attending work each
  day for 10 days and should seek a repeat PCR in the event of any
  positive LFD test.

Responding to the update, Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “We welcome this updated guidance which now allows healthcare professionals who have a positive COVID-19 case in their household to continue working if they are fully vaccinated and test negative.

“We know there is enormous pressure on the healthcare service as it faces a potential rise in staff shortages due to the Omicron variant. This update means that more maternity staff are able to continue working and supporting women and their families.

“We would urge all NHS Trusts to incorporate this guidance into their way of working to ensure a consistent approach. We would also request the Government considers introducing priority testing for all healthcare staff, so as they can receive their test result as soon as possible and return to work if it’s negative.”

ENDS

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