West Herts hospital bosses change quarantine guidance for staff

Medics returning to work at west Hertfordshire hospitals WILL have to quarantine for 14-days if they travel to a country that falls outside the government’s approved ‘travel corridors’.

Last week it was reported to a meeting of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust board that ‘registered professionals’ – including doctors and some nurses – need NOT quarantine after returning from ANY foreign holiday or trip.

But now it has emerged the Trust has changed the policy – and staff will only be allowed to return to work immediately if they have been to one of the countries on the goverment’s list of ‘travel corridors’.

If they have travelled to countries outside that list – which includes the United States – they will have to stay away from work for 14 days.

The Trust says the policy was changed following the government’s announcement of ‘travel corridors’, made on Friday (July 3).

Previous government policy was that anyone coming in to the UK by plane, train or boat should self-isolate for 14 days.

Yet the Trust’s previous policy – reported to the meeting of the Trust board on Thursday (July 2) – allowed ‘registered professionals’ at the Trust to return to work immediately.

And not only did it say they did not need to self-isolate away from the hospitals – but, according to the report, they didn’t need to have a Covid-19 test on their return either.

The report to the board said: “. . . .if a registered professional still chooses to book an international holiday, they will not need to quarantine for 14 days or have a test on returning so can return to work immediately. This approach is in line with national guidance.”

Meanwhile under the policy other staff at the Trust – including healthcare assistants – had still been required to quarantine for 14 days after travelling overseas.

But under the Trust’s new policy all staff are required to self-isolate in the same circumstances, in line with the government’s ‘travel corridors’.

The West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust operates Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals.