Trust leaders welcome pragmatic solution to growing problem of NHS staff self-isolation

19 July 2021

Responding to plans to allow frontline NHS and social care staff to attend work rather than self-isolate in exceptional circumstances, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Trust leaders will welcome this pragmatic response to the increasing number of NHS staff having to isolate as the rate of COVID-19 infections in the community rises.

"For weeks now we have been hearing how staff needing to isolate was significantly disrupting the NHS' ability to recover care backlogs, while also grappling with record levels of demand for emergency care and increasing levels of COVID-19 hospitalisations.

We called for changes to be made and we are pleased national leaders have found a solution.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive

"We called for changes to be made and we are pleased national leaders have found a solution.

"The mitigations outlined will help trusts do everything they can to protect patients and staff from acquiring COVID-19 while allowing them to deliver vital NHS services.

"This is even more important ahead of further restrictions being lifted today and the expectation that community infections, hospital admissions and sadly, the number of deaths will rise."