Testing Regime
Under the new guidance, all staff will no longer be required to do the PCR testing regime (once per fortnight), this is now replaced with twice weekly LFD testing. All LFD tests must be reported to the government portal/website.
Symptomatic Staff
Staff who demonstrate symptoms, no matter how mild, should not come to work and perform LFD test as soon as possible. These symptoms include:
- Cough
- high temperature, fever or chills
- loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
- shortness of breath
- unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
- muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
- not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
- headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
- sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
- diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
If the LFD test is positive, the staff will need to inform their line manager and the Track and Trace team and follow the POSITIVE COVID-19 pathway. They will be provided advice on appropriate isolation and test and return guidance.
If the LFD test is negative, the staff can come back to work provided they are well enough to do so (with milder or recovered symptoms) and without high temperature/fever for at least 48 hours, provided:
• Daily symptoms checks (if worsen) and LFD testing for 7 days from the onset of symptoms
• Following strict IPC guidance; i.e. handwashing
• Refrain from coffee/lunch breaks around other members of staff
• Refrain from treating vulnerable patients
After 7 days and symptoms have not worsened, the staff can revert back to twice-weekly LFD testing.
Contacts
All staff who have been identified as contacts will be able to carry on working as normal. Contacts are now categorised as:
- High Risk – Household contact (24 hours or more)
- Low Risk – Day-to-day contact including the working environment
High Risk
Staff who have been identified as high risk (household contact) can return to work as normal doing the following:
- Daily LFD tests for 10 days
- Keep an eye on own health for any symptoms
- Refrain from treating vulnerable patients
Low Risk
Staff who have been identified as low risk (general contact) can return to work as normal doing the following:
- Twice weekly LFD tests
- Keep an eye on own health for any symptoms
If staff test positive during any of these testing regimes they must contact the Track and Trace Team, who will advise of isolation dates.
For further information, contact the Track & Trace team Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm on rnoh.
Infection Prevention & Control team, Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm via Vocera or Switchboard if you are offsite.
Occupational Health contact details:
Angela Rouse – Occupational Health Nurse ext 1474 or via Switchboard, Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Silver on Call Saturday - Sunday
LATERAL FLOW DEVICE TESTING
The RNOH is has been an early adopter site of Lateral Flow Device Testing (LFD). LFD testing detects the presence of the COVID-19 viral antigen from a swab sample. The test is self-administered using a handheld device and produces results in 20-30 minutes. It is mandatory for all staff who work on site to test themselves twice a week – every three to four days – to fit with shift patterns and leave requirements – for example, Wednesday and Sunday, or Monday and Thursday.
Staff can order a box of seven tests from the following website: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests .
Undertaking the test
You can see a demonstration of how to take the test by watching this video. Written Instructions are in the documents section below.
You must log the results of your test, every time you complete a test by visiting https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result and following the Step by Step guide, which you will find in documents.
You must record the test even if it comes back as INVALID.
For any positive result, staff should inform their manager in the normal way. and contact Track and Trace.
Reading the Results
The test will take 30 minutes to read, the results are as follows:
