The PDA is reminding Responsible Pharmacists (RP) that they play an essential role in deciding what is safe for patients and colleagues in the pharmacy, when faced with staff members at work who have tested positive for COVID-19. Regrettably the policy of at least one major pharmacy multiple means that COVID-19 positive staff are permitted to attend work, which has the potential to expose vulnerable patients and staff to risk of infection.
Well Pharmacy, one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains and a leading member of the Company Chemists Association (CCA) has confirmed to the PDA that they are operating a policy that allows members of staff who have a positive COVID-19 test to work in their pharmacies.
The PDA sought clarification from the pharmacy business after several members raised concerns that symptomatic employees with a confirmed COVID-19 infection are being allowed to attend the pharmacy.
The pharmacy superintendent has since confirmed that is in line with company policy which states, “isolation is a personal choice” and confirms that such an approach “is in line with the Government Living with Covid guidance”.
The business simultaneously claimed that they “continue to encourage colleagues and managers to take a common-sense approach. If anyone presents too unwell to be at work, we encourage/request they remain at home until they feel better (regardless of covid status)”.
This policy permits those currently unwell with COVID-19 to work in patient facing roles with clinically vulnerable patients and colleagues, in what should be considered a safe healthcare setting.
NHS Guidance
The PDA share the concerns of members that vulnerable patients and vulnerable colleagues who have a reasonable expectation of rigorous infection control procedures in any healthcare setting, could be exposed to the COVID-19 virus by the policy of permitting positive COVID-19 employees to attend work.
The policy of this pharmacy multiple appears at odds with the latest NHS Guidance on Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result which states:
All healthcare staff who have received a positive COVID-19 test result, regardless of whether they have symptoms, are advised not to attend work for 5 days. They should follow guidance for people with a positive COVID-19 test result
Patient-facing healthcare staff can return to work when they have had 2 consecutive negative LFD test results (taken at least 24 hours apart).
Employers may need to ensure full sick pay is available to ensure individuals can afford to stay at home.
Advice for Members
The GPhC Professional Standards require pharmacists to:
“use their professional judgement so that they deliver safe and effective care”
The RP Regulations require the RP
“to secure the safe and effective running of the registered pharmacy when it is operational”
The RP when faced with a confirmed COVID-19 positive member of the pharmacy team presenting for work should therefore:
- Familiarise themselves with the latest NHS Guidance: Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result
- Inform the pharmacy superintendent of any risks to patient/colleague safety, preferably in writing.
- Check if a specific risk assessment has been undertaken by the pharmacy.
- Undertake their own assessment of the risk of vulnerable patients and staff being exposed to COVID-19 infection.
- Consider requiring the member of staff to work in a non-patient facing role away from the pharmacy and other members of the team.
- If the above is not possible, inform the line manager that the only option is to send the member of staff home.
- If removing a confirmed COVID-19 positive member of staff leaves the pharmacy under resourced, the workload should be managed accordingly, and consideration given to closing the pharmacy, if a safe and effective reduced level of service cannot be guaranteed.
Whistleblowing
Pharmacists who raise legitimate concerns about infection risks to their employer as set out above will be protected by whistleblowing legislation. The whistleblowing provisions protect any ‘worker’ who makes a ‘protected disclosure’ of information, from being dismissed or penalised by their employer because of the disclosure.
PDA members who require advice on raising concerns about COVID-19 infection risks at work can contact the PDA Service Centre.
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