Will self-isolation rules be relaxed for NHS workers?
SELF-ISOLATION rules for NHS staff are being urgently reviewed as part of a desperate bid to ease pressure on struggling health boards.
A looming crisis is facing the NHS across Scotland, with soaring numbers of patients being treated for the virus, prompting warnings that operations will have to be cancelled.
Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said special consideration was being given to ending the ten-day quarantine period for fully vaccinated NHS workers who are identified as close contacts of coronavirus cases.
It comes as part of a wider review of selfisolation for those who do not have Covid but have been ordered to remain at home by Test and Protect.
In England, from August 16 all adults who have been double-jabbed and children aged under 18 will not have to quarantine if they are identified as close contacts. Those with a positive test or symptoms will still have to self-isolate.
Miss Sturgeon has yet to reveal whether there will be changes to the rules in Scotland – but signalled NHS workers could be the first group considered.
It comes amid growing pressure on services, with three hospitals – Raigmore in Inverness, St John’s in Elgin and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – placed under ‘code black’ status this week after reaching capacity.
University Hospital Wishaw was also forced to cancel several surgeries to free up staff, and yesterday NHS Lothian warned that rising hospital admissions coupled with high numbers of staff self-isolating was causing ‘serious capacity issues’.
Official statistics show 2,760 NHS staff were off in the most recent week due to coronavirus-related issues – such as illness or needing to self-isolate.
Asked about calls for a change to the rules at her Covid briefing, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘On the issue of self isolation for close contacts of positive cases... we are currently reviewing that policy and will set out our intentions soon. I may say more about this in my statement to parliament next week.
‘We’re considering it in general terms but we are also considering it in relation to particular occupations and workplaces where having large numbers of people self-isolating potentially raises questions about sustainability of services. Obviously health and care staff fall into that category.’
Yesterday Scottish Tory health spokesman Annie Wells said some health boards were ‘at breaking point’ as she called for an urgent statement when Holyrood is recalled next week.
She said: ‘SNP ministers need to explore ways to ensure more staff having to self-isolate will not mean more and more procedures cannot be carried out.’
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: ‘I am dismayed we didn’t get an announcement today about self-isolation because no change and waiting longer to take decisions could see essential services keel over.’
Speaking to the BBC, Jillian Evans, head of health intelligence at NHS Grampian, said it would ‘make sense’ for hospitals to postpone non-urgent work to avoid being overwhelmed.
Jacquie Campbell, chief officer of acute services for NHS Lothian, said: ‘Lothian is experiencing a high number of patients who have tested positive for Covid-19.
‘We are seeing a rise in the number of patients admitted to hospital and staff who are required to self-isolate.
‘Unfortunately we have had to postpone some planned procedures. We apologise to all those patients who have been affected and would reassure them that their appointments will be rearranged as soon as possible.’
Patients are also being urged to consider visiting pharmacies, minor injury departments and GPs rather than going to A&E.
‘Essential services could keel over’