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Coronavirus staff guidance University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Updates

Update, 11 January 2022

Published: 11 January 2022

Confirmatory PCR tests temporarily suspended for asymptomatic positives

From today Tuesday 11 January, confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow test (LFT) result will be temporarily suspended (unless symptomatic). Members of staff who receive a positive LFT result will be required to self-isolate, but not to request a PCR. You will be able to leave self-isolation seven days after the date of your initial positive test if you receive two negative LFT results, 24 hours apart, on days six and seven. Staff can return to work on day seven if it is a working day. If you continue to be LFT positive up to day ten, you may then return to work if risk assessment permits and you are asymptomatic.

Please also remember to report all test results, positive or negative, via the self testing reporting form.

If your ward or department is taking part in LAMP testing, and you have a positive test result, you will need to have a confirmatory PCR. Staff need to contact the occupational health team and obtain a confirming PCR either via drive through or a PCR delivered to your home.

If you develop any of the symptoms of COVID-19, you can still request a PCR test and continue self-isolation.

Rates of COVID-19 remain high, which means that the chances of a false positive from a positive LFT result are very low and LFT testing has a high rate of accuracy.

There are a few exceptions to this revised approach: those eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP), those participating in research/surveillance programmes and those at particular risk of becoming seriously ill – more details can be found on the government's coronavirus website.

Fertility and pregnancy information for staff

Pregnancy and fertility experts from UHB are offering pregnant staff, and those who have put off getting vaccinated against COVID-19 because of concerns around their pregnancy or fertility, the opportunity of a personal, confidential conversation to help allay any fears.

The offer comes on top of their advice for vaccine-hesitant staff to seek information from trusted sources to reassure them that the vaccine is safe.

Latest data from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System that shows 96% of pregnant women admitted to hospital between May and October last year were unvaccinated. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives, and the British Fertility Society all support and endorse vaccination against COVID-19 because it has been proven to reduce serious illness and prevent hospitalisation.

Did you know:

  • In the UK, 1 in 10 women admitted to hospital with COVID-19 require intensive care. In the later stages of pregnancy women are at increased risk of becoming seriously unwell with COVID-19
  • Women who have COVID-19 in pregnancy are twice as likely to have a stillbirth, and it is twice as likely that their baby will be born prematurely, which can affect their long-term health
  • Research from across six studies in four countries, involving more than 40,000 pregnant women, shows having the vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage, pre-term birth, stillbirth, nor does it increase the risk of a small-for-gestational-age baby, or the risk of congenital abnormalities

Frequently asked questions

Can any of the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility?

No. There is absolutely no evidence, and no theoretical reason, that any of the vaccines can affect the fertility of women or men. This includes whether you are trying on your own or having fertility treatment.

I have had recurrent miscarriages and am now trying to get pregnant again. Should I postpone having a COVID-19 vaccine?

No. There is no reason to postpone having your COVID-19 vaccine as it will not affect your risk of having a miscarriage.

Will the vaccine harm my unborn baby?

No. The vaccine doesn’t contain any live virus, so it can’t be passed to your baby through the placenta. The antibodies you develop after having the vaccine can be passed through the placenta, so it’s likely that your baby will have greater protection against the virus when they are born.

How many women have had the vaccine?

Data from the United States and the UK, where over 260,000 pregnant women have had a COVID-19 vaccine, has not raised any safety concerns. The initial trials which showed that these vaccines are safe and effective did not include pregnant women – as often happens in clinical trials. This means there was limited information about the effects of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women at the start of the vaccination programme, but we have a lot more real-time data now.

Can I wait until after the baby’s born?

Because of the higher risks if you get COVID-19 in the late stages of pregnancy, it really is safer for both you and your baby to have the vaccine as soon as you can.

Ask our fertility and pregnancy experts

If you have a question about the COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy or fertility, you can ask a UHB expert in confidence. To ask your question, please email communications@uhb.nhs.uk and this will be passed onto Dr Mukherjee and Dr Howland.

Dr Mukherjee is a Consultant Obstetrician and a maternal medicine specialist. She works at both Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals maternity units and is very passionate about medical education and is a strong advocate of patient and colleague safety.

Dr Howland is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for UHB. Dr Howland has hosted very successful Facebook Live Q&A sessions on fertility held by the Trust and can offer advice on fertility and pregnancy. Her latest Q&A can be found on Facebook:

More information

Getting vaccinated

  • Pregnant women can get the vaccinations at any point in their pregnancy, it is never too early or too late
  • Pregnant women are given the Pfizer vaccine
  • As well as a first and second dose, pregnant women and those trying to conceive are encouraged to also get the booster
  • We recommend that partners get the COVID-19 vaccinations too, to help protect their partner and the baby
  • Pregnant women can get a COVID-19 vaccination at any vaccination site
  • To get a COVID-19 vaccination, there are a wide range of convenient locations to get yours. We promote staff vaccination clinics on our staff Facebook groups and In the Loop every Thursday
  • You can also book an appointment in advance, or walk-in on the day at a public site, staff who show their ID card will be fast tracked if there is a queue

To find vaccination locations, visit the Birmingham and Solihull COVID vaccine site.

Helping patients who are pregnant or trying to conceive get vaccinated

  • Make every contact count
  • Vaccination is a personal choice, but it saves lives
  • The Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Obstetricians and the Royal College of Nursing all support and encourage vaccination
  • Share the links to the information from the email above

Imperial College London have an explainer which is updated regularly and gives a lot of research and information.

Guidance for managers: supporting conversations regarding COVID-19 vaccinations

As you will be aware, from 1 April, it will become mandatory for all NHS staff who have face-to-face contact with patients to be double vaccinated against COVID-19, unless medically exempt. 

The legislation will apply to all staff who have face-to-face contact with patients and is regardless of contracted hours or working arrangements. This includes agency and bank staff, contractors, students and volunteers. The frequency of the face-to-face contact does not make a difference.

Staff guidance

In preparation for this legislation coming into effect, staff with line management responsibilities are encouraged to take a look at the attached resources, including links to national guidance, and frequently asked questions. This resource is designed to support line managers, divisional leads and others with team leader responsibilities in having supportive conversations with staff.

Staff that are not double vaccinated have until 3 February 2022 to receive their first dose and 31 March 2022 to receive their second dose. However, it is strongly advised that staff get their vaccinations as soon as possible.

Vaccinations are available at the QEHB hospital hub, or please visit a local vaccination site across Birmingham and Solihull:

For further advice, training or support with having supportive conversations please contact the OD Team by email.

Email: OrganisationalDevelopment@uhb.nhs.uk

There is also helpful information including a guide for having supportive conversations about the COVID-19 vaccination available under "Downloads".

If you have any concerns or queries about the COVID-19 vaccination, please contact the queries email.

Email: COVID19VaccineQueries@uhb.nhs.uk

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