This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Government to clarify Covid advice relevant to pregnant healthcare workers
To clarify advice regarding what workplace or work arrangement adjustments should be made for pregnant healthcare workers following the recent announcement that pregnant women are now in the high risk group if exposed to COVID-19
More details
Pregnant women have now been classed in the high risk group in relation to COVID 19. However despite this and the government advice that pregnant women should avoid unnecessary social contact many Trusts are continuing to advise pregnant healthcare workers to work as normal without regard for increased risk. Some Trusts have stated that the advice doesn't apply to healthcare workers or is not clear enough for them to make changes to the working arrangements for pregnant healthcare workers.
This petition was rejected
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The Government's advice is that everybody should observe social distancing, and that people who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus, including those who are pregnant, should be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.
The application of this advice to particular groups of staff is a matter for individual employers. The NHS has advised all local trusts to make adjustments to enable staff to stay well and at work wherever possible, and said that the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology will provide further guidance about pregnant women: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/urgent-next-steps-on-nhs-response-to-covid-19-letter-simon-stevens.pdf
Since you started your petition the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which publishes clinical guidelines and sets standards for women's health care, updated its guidance for pregnant women who are working in the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/updated-advice-for-pregnant-women-who-are-working-in-the-nhs-and-other-work-settings-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/
This states that pregnant women of any gestation should be offered the choice of whether to work in direct patient-facing roles during the coronavirus pandemic.
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
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