Dear Member,

 

For those of you who ordered in your lateral flow tests you should received them soon if you have not already.

 

What you need to do:

• Click here to download the SOP – All patient facing staff to read and sign
• Each member of patient facing staff to be provided with a box of tests – this should last 12 weeks
• Staff to test twice a week at home
• Print the written guidance and provide it to each member of staff – click here to download
• Results to be recorded on the NHS digital online platform within 24 hours of the result – this is a statutory requirement 
• If the results are positive then the member of staff must undertake a PCR test – you can book this via the employers portal 
• Check your staff are conducting these tests AND recording them on the portal twice weekly
• If a member of staff tests positive via a PCR test – they will not need to conduct the lateral flow tests for 90 days following this result 

 

Useful information:

• Click here for a video guide on how to conduct the test
• Click here for a written guide on how to conduct the test

 

What to do if a member of your team tests positive via a PCR test:

• They will be contacted by test and trace – if they have been in the pharmacy 14 days prior to the result they should provide the pharmacy details and not details of individual staff members 
• Contact your local health protection team for advice 
• Continue to take all appropriate steps to make the pharmacy COVID-secure, so far as practicable, including social distancing, the proper use (donning and doffing) of appropriate PPE, but recognise that if one staff member tests positive, sometimes other staff may still be close contacts and asked to self-isolate depending on the PHE Local Health Protection Team assessment
• If there is disruption to service you are also recommended to contact your regional NHSE&I team
• Click here to view the PSNC briefing on test and trace 
• Click here to download the PSNC emergency closure checklist 

 

As always, if your require and further support please contact the PharmaPlus team.