COVID-19 testing guidance for staff

Colleagues across the trust are no longer required to take a COVID-19 test when they have COVID-19 symptoms unless they are providing direct inpatient care to severely immuno-compromised patients.

This means colleagues who are not providing direct inpatient care for severely immunocompromised patients who test positive for COVID-19 can now attend work if they are well enough to do so.

If managers have concerns about any individual members of staff, then a risk assessment should be undertaken.

Staff who have symptoms and are not well enough to work should follow the Sickness absence policy and procedure.

If colleagues who provide direct inpatient care to severely immuno-compromised patients receive a positive COVID-19 test result they must stay off work and follow the guidance in the flow chart below:

Stopping the spread of flu: mask wearing

We have made the clinical decision to introduce the mandatory wearing of fluid resistant masks for all staff in specific wards and services to help limit the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses.

We respectfully encourage patients and visitors to also wear a mask where able to help keep our vulnerable patients safe and our staff fit and healthy at work.

The wards where staff will be wearing masks:

The James Cook University Hospital:

• Emergency department
• Urgent treatment centre
• Same day emergency care
• Ward 1 (acute assessment unit)
• Ward 4 (renal)
• Ward 9 (respiratory)
• Ward 14 (oncology)
• Ward 31 (medicine short stay)
• Ward 33 (haematology)
• Ward 37 (acute medical unit)
• Rheumatology outpatients 

Friarage Hospital

• Urgent treatment centre 
• Clinical decisions unit 

Redcar Primary Care Hospital

• Urgent treatment centre