Coronavirus staff guidance University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Staff testing

Routine COVID-19 staff testing has now been withdrawn, apart from the following scenarios only:

• Symptomatic staff who are providing direct inpatient care to patients who are severely immunocompromised (Heartlands Ward 3, QEHB wards 303, 304, 305, 306, 622, 623, 624, 625, 726, 727, Coronary Care - QEHB) → LFD testing via ward-based supply
• In these circumstances, if the result of this LFD test is positive, you are advised not to attend work for at least 5 days and until you have a negative result on LFD test. In these circumstances, Line Managers are encouraged to explore home working where possible.  If home working cannot be accommodated or the member of staff is too unwell to work, absence will be classed as sickness and normal contractual sick pay will apply
• Testing under the direction of Infection Prevention and Control specialists, such as outbreak testing
• For staff who are asymptomatic but test positive will be required not to attend work for the first 5 days.  In these circumstances, Line Managers are encouraged to explore home working where possible.  If home working cannot be accommodated the first five days of absence will be paid special leave.  If the member of staff is unable to return to work from day six onwards due to developing symptoms and feeling unwell, special leave will be ended and normal sickness absence and contractual sick pay will apply

Symptomatic staff

Staff who are symptomatic and not in the above categories should follow the national guidance, which is:

• If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you no longer feel unwell.  In these circumstances, Line Managers are encouraged to explore home working where possible.  If home working cannot be accommodated or the member of staff is too unwell to work, absence will be classed as sickness and normal contractual sick pay will apply. For further guidance please visit:
• UK: people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19
• Line managers should undertake a risk assessment before patient-facing healthcare staff return to work in line with normal return to work processes

All COVID related absences should continue to be reported via the online reporting system.  Please visit:

• Reporting absence - managers