From the 1st April 2022, the requirements for testing of symptomatic NHS staff and staff contacts of COVID-19 positive cases have changed.
Staff testing
From 1st April, in line with UKHSA advice, NHS staff testing will operate as follows:
- NHS staff should continue to test using a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) twice weekly. LAMP testing will no longer be available, PCR testing will no longer be required routinely.
- Symptomatic NHS staff should test themselves using LFTs.
- Staff who test positive, or have a high temperature, should not attend work and continue to follow the current return to work guidance.
- Staff who are household contacts, or otherwise identified as a contact, of a positive COVID-19 case will now be able to continue to work as normal if they remain asymptomatic and continue to test using LFTs with negative results. They will no longer be required to have a PCR test in order to return to work.
- Staff should undertake COVID-19 tests on an ad-hoc basis and will be notified via the Trust COVID-19 team and/or their line manager if this applies to them. This is in addition to the twice weekly testing.
- LFT tests will continue to be available for free through the Gov.uk portal for NHS staff in England and results must continue to be reported. If you cannot access an LFT via gov.uk, please contact EEASTCovidLeads@eastamb.nhs.uk.
- Staff undertaking COVID-19 tests as part of a research study (eg SIREN) should follow the protocols of their study. Please contact your local study coordinator for further details.
Trust process
Staff with onset of any COVID-19 symptoms must be referred to the COVID-19 team and conduct a lateral flow test.
- If the staff member's test is negative, and the staff member is well enough to do so (with no high temperature), they can remain in the workplace.
- If the staff member's test is positive, they must not attend work and follow this action card.
- Further instructions will be issued by the COVID-19 team.
Staff who are a contact of a positive case
- Must be referred to the COVID-19 Team
- Can continue in work if they continue to test negative using lateral flow devices and remain well enough to do so (with no high temperature).
- Conduct 10 days LFTs (day 0 being the day of contact).
Continued practice
The Trust is continuing to operate a robust testing regime to protect staff and patients whilst we transition through these changes.
All staff are reminded that the current working safely practices, and PPE requirements, remain in place so please continue to:
- Wear level 2 PPE with all patients as a minimum and upgrade where necessary (e.g level 3 for performing AGPs).
- Distance where possible.
- Wear masks in both clinical and non-clinical settings across all Trust sites.
- Decontaminate work areas before and after use.
- Practice good hand hygiene regularly.
- Ventilate areas where possible
- Monitor for symptoms and conduct LFTs.
- Follow all other current requirements outlined in the AACE working safely guidance (found on the COVID Homepage of the Trust intranet) and the local risk assessments.
Published 1st April 2022
