Support those who still should work from home

AS previous restrictions have lifted across England, we wanted to ensure your readers were aware that the advice to work from home for at least half a million immunosuppressed people remains unchanged.

Data confirms that most of these individuals have lower protection levels even after multiple doses of Covid-19 vaccines and they remain the most at risk of catching and dying from Covid-19.

Despite this, there has been no announcement from the Government to alert these individuals that the advice for them remains to follow social distancing measures and to “work from home if you can, and if this is not possible, speak to your employer about what temporary arrangements they can make to reduce your risk”.

This guidance was put in place on December 24 and remains in place even after the Plan B restrictions were lifted. We are asking all employers in Leicestershire to continue to do all they can to enable their employees at highest risk from Covid-19 to work from home where possible to reduce their risk of contracting Covid-19.

To protect those who cannot work from home, strict adherence by employers to risk reducing measures remains as important as ever.

Throughout the pandemic we have heard from people who simply do not feel safe at work and as charities supporting higher risk individuals, we are keen to work with employers to ensure that this group do not feel that they have to choose between protecting their lives and protecting their livelihoods.

These individuals have shown extraordinary resilience during the pandemic, but it is going to take much longer for people in Leicestershire who are especially vulnerable to Covid-19 to “learn to live with it”.

This will not happen without further support from everyone in society who will need to play their part in recognising that the pandemic is far from over for the vulnerable people we represent and support.

Paul Bristow, Chief Executive,

Kidney Care UK