Dear Member,

We have had a lot of calls from members recently for guidance on what to do if staff test positive for COVID or are asked to self-isolate by test and trace. 

We have listed below things you should already have in place based on guidance we have issued throughout 2020/21. Please see list below, if there is anything you do not have in place we urge you to do so immediately and not to wait until a member of the team tests positive as this may lead to issues with business continuity planning. 

Things you must have in place:

• Register for the employers portal to allow priority testing of your staff 
• Have the latest COVID-19 SOP
• Premises risk assessment
• Individual staff risk assessment
• Social distancing and appropriate PPE in the workplace – Click here for PSNC Guidance & here for previous PharmaPlus guidance
• Order your PPE weekly via the PPE portal for free
• Business continuity plan to include updated COVID planning – download from the NPA website
• Staff briefing on what individuals need to say to test and trace if contacted 

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 are 2 or more positive cases in the pharmacy this maybe considered an outbreak and should be reported to your regional NHSE&I team
• 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 

Lateral Flow Tests: 

1. Order your testing kits for each member of staff from the PCSE portal
2. Click here to download the SOP – All patient facing staff to read and sign
3. Each member of patient facing staff to be provided with a box of tests – this should last 12 weeks
4. Staff to test twice a week at home
5. Print the written guidance and provide it to each member of staff – click here to download
6. Results to be recorded on the NHS digital online platform within 24 hours of the result – this is a statutory requirement 
7. If the results are positive then the member of staff must undertake a PCR test – you can book this via the employers portal 
8.  Check your staff are conducting these tests AND recording them on the portal twice weekly
9. 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 

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

How to minimise the effect of NHS Test and Trace on the Pharmacy?

• Proper use of PPE for direct patient care should provide adequate protection and PHE guidance indicates this will not be considered a recent close contact – e.g. Gloves, apron, type IIR fluid resistant face mask, eye protection / visor – See full guidance for recommendations.
• Staff working together – if one tests positive other members of staff may also need to self-isolate depending on the circumstances and measures in place in the pharmacy:
  • E.g. the proper use of PPE, including face masks, social distancing, handwashing routines undertaken frequently, and other measures to make the premises COVID-secure, including the use of physical barriers, such as full Perspex or clear screens, as well as other factors, such as the size of the dispensary, the length of time staff have been in close proximity, ventilation in the pharmacy, and staff break arrangements.
  • Ensure you have appropriate procedures to cover ALL the above
• The PHE Local Health Protection Team will consider whether there has been any close contacts in the pharmacy if one member of staff tests positive for coronavirus.
• If the whole staff team is asked to self-isolate it is likely to have implications for the continued provision of community pharmacy services 
• The Local Health Protection Team are more likely to determine that there was a recent close contact and staff should self-isolate for the following reasons:
  • The closer staff are to each other working in the pharmacy 
  • The smaller the dispensary or pharmacy 
  • The longer the time staff are together and 
  • The greater any other risk factors for transmission, the more likely that the Local Health Protection Team will determine that there was a recent close contact and staff should self-isolate for the required period of time, if one member of staff tests positive for coronavirus. Contractors may wish to consider the use of split staff teams to avoid the risk of all staff in a pharmacy being asked to self-isolate or consider other appropriate measures.
• Contactors may wish to consider use of split staff teams if possible to prevent risking all staff in the pharmacy needing to self-isolate if possible 

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