We look at what these changes mean for you if you have been told to shield. The government says it will 'write to you if the shielding advice changes' Credit: AFP - Getty ... Dr Jenny Harries, on why high-risk kids can move off coronavirus shielding list. You can do this by washing your hands regularly, avoiding touching your face and keeping 2 metres away from people outside of your household or bubble wherever possible. Last updated: 'Why was my toddler taken off the shielding list?' However, there are a number of factors to bear in mind: For more detailed guidance on legal issues around staff returning to work please see our previous article here. If you're at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus (COVID-19), there are things you can do to help keep yourself safe. This includes children and young people. July 10, 2020. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. At the start of the NHS Shielded Patient List, GP IT systems used the “Risk of exposure to communicable disease (situation))” flag whilst the correct SNOMED CT codes were being added. Employers therefore need to consider how they are going to prepare for this potential surge in new business and how they will offer their services in a way which meets the Government’s updated safety guidance. Organisations receiving the list members of two households can now meet together either inside or outside, while continuing to observe social distancing measures. The UK Government has updated shielding guidance for the nation's most vulnerable people. However, please be aware of potential claims as outlined above. Where the entitlement conditions for ESA are met, the DWP will progress the claim accordingly. The Treasury has now published a further update on how the flexible scheme will work. Many people including those … Employers must keep a copy of any agreement for 5 years. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales Changes to guidance set out by the Scottish government are similar, where shielding ended from 31 July for people who had been shielding in Scotland. If you were shielding in the past, you can now follow the same advice as everyone else in your local council area’s protection level.You can also choose to follow the extra advice for people at highest risk from coronavirus.. Whatever level you are in, you should strictly follow 2 metre physical distancing and hand washing measures. Government announces plans for changes to Shielding Government announces plans for changes to Shielding. This includes information about work, school and transport. Changes to shielding guidance People who are identified as clinically extremely vulnerable may be at high risk of serious illness if they catch coronavirus (COVID-19). ... Social isolation, reduction in physical activity, unpredictability and changes in routine can all contribute to increasing stress. In Northern Ireland official advice states that shielding has been paused from 31 July for people who were shielding there. Aaron Bradley says he is shocked his son has been removed from the list without his consultation. Employers also have the option of issuing a reasonable management instruction to return to work, which if not agreed to by the employee, could lead to disciplinary action. You can change your cookie settings at any time if you want. Such employees can still be flexibly furloughed; and. GPs say this is a complex process and as the guidance changes, shielding will be relevant to different people. These changes from 6th July included: You no longer need to socially distance from people you live with If an employer has secured their workplace but an employee is refusing to return to work, seeking to dismiss may be the employer’s first thought. From Monday 6 July, there are two major changes for all 2.2million people who are shielding in England. The formal shielding notification you receive will act as evidence for your employer of the Department of Work and Pensions that you are advised to shield and may be eligible for SSP or ESA. From 1 August 2020, shielding will be relaxed and if a workplace is Covid-19 secure, shielding workers can return to work, but should still observe strict social distancing … It may be that you can keep them on furlough if that works best for you and them. a whole host of different businesses will be able to open the doors once again, including pubs, restaurants, holiday parks and hairdressers; the 2m social distancing rule will be relaxed, so that people can remain 1m apart but with steps to reduce transmissions; and. However, we recognise that there will be some people who will be more comfortable staying at home. It is now the responsibility of paediatricians to look at our patients who are on the current shielded patient list and to communicate any changes with families and children who are no longer clinically extremely vulnerable. The Scottish Government have changed some advice for those on the shielding list in areas in higher levels. Frequently asked questions about changes to shielding during the coronavirus pandemic. Deputy chief medical officer for England Dr Jenny Harries said: ‘Shielding was introduced to safeguard those who, at the start of the epidemic in the UK, were thought to be most clinically vulnerable in our communities. The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) will review cases to ensure the information held is updated in accordance with changes to the shielding guidance. We have yet to have any Government guidance to say whether this is still ok, but certainly at the start of the furlough scheme the Government were intimating that this was ok if the employer and employee agreed; and. For now, the guidance remains the same – stay at home and only go outside to exercise or to spend time outdoors with a […] The NHS shielded patients list will be disseminated by NHS Digital to recipients under data sharing terms of release which will set out the agreed purposes for which the data is to be used, commitments to secure handling and management of the list, and the scope of onward dissemination. Update on shielding: 18 August 2020. Coronavirus: Changes to Shielding Information (July 2020) Advice and Information – 24 June 2020. Topics. There is now specific guidance for CEV people at each LCAL following the 12 October 2020 changes in national government policy. “We understand that the challenges of shielding are enormous, and that those shielding want and need clarity about when they can start to lead a less restricted life. This will allow workers to return to work part time, whilst still receiving furlough pay for periods when their employer cannot offer them work. The government has made some changes to its guidance for people who are shielding because the transmission of COVID-19 in the community has gone down. The key points are: The Government has also confirmed a change in their guidance for shielding workers. To discuss the content in this article please call 01872 265100 or email employment@stephens-scown.co.uk. Read more. About 90,000 people shielding are under 18. The fieldwork for the Shielding Behavioural Survey was conducted over a period where government guidance for individuals shielding changed. Flexible furlough agreements must now be made or confirmed in writing (which can be done electronically), be incorporated into the employee’s employment contract and specify the main terms and conditions of the agreement. For children in level 1 – 3 areas this means that children who are on the shielding list can still attend school – unless their clinician has advised them otherwise. ... "What we're trying to do is avoid those downsides to shielding… Changes to lockdown rules and shielding – info for employers, Employee Dismissal and Settlement Agreements, Commercial leases for landlords and tenants, Incorporations, company secretarial, and governance, Business Owners Disputes and Exit Strategies, Opening Hours for Christmas and New Year 2020, Minority vs majority shareholders – Know your shareholder rights. Children will only be removed from the shielding list by their GP or specialist doctor after discussions with the child and their family. Alternatively fill out the form below and we'll get in touch right away. The advice…, The opening hours for our offices over the Christmas and New Year period for 2020…, Many people don’t realise that since 6 April 2012 new employees have to work continuously…, When holding shares in a company, it is vital that the shareholder fully understands what…, How can giving gifts reduce the liability of inheritance tax? Click this link for the full guidance for Shielding and extremely vulnerable (including advise on Young people shielding), Support for Parents, children and young people, Patient Information Leaflets & links to resources, Sexual Health and Emergency contraception, Joined up care Derbyshire- local health and social care information, Fees for services not provided under the NHS, End of Life Care at The Park Medical Practice and Oakwood Surgery, Infection Prevention and Control Annual Statement 2019, Health and Wellbeing event for people recovering or living with cancer, Changes to shielding guidance Update from 8th July 2020, Post-Viral – How to manage after COVID-19, you no longer need to socially distance from people you live with, if you want to, you can meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from other households, you may also form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household if you want to, but one of the households in the ‘support bubble’ should be a single adult household (either an adult living alone or with children under 18 only). The Government has also confirmed a change in their guidance for shielding workers. The key issues for business coming out of lockdown are discussed in our cross-discipline Coronavirus guide. Current advice. There is some general advice for everyone at high risk, as well as extra advice depending on where you live. It is important therefore to discuss the concerns with the employee and see if you can reach a position where they do feel safe enough to return before you take any drastic action; If a worker is refusing to return because of childcare arrangements, dismissing them could be discriminatory – so again look at what other options are available. Beth Kingman from our Private…, For most couples, incurring debt is a necessary part of life in order to be…. Boris Johnson changes shielding advice for second national lockdown. Please contact your Clinical Director if you have not received this list. You can all spend time together outside and inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to socially distance, the government support offer has been extended: you can still get a food box, care and/or medicine delivery until 31 July if you want them, and have, the latest evidence indicates that the risk of serious illness for most children and young people is low. We cover what you need to know about flexible furlough here. Families, carers and young people do not need to make immediate contact, the government will no longer be advising you to shield, the support from the National Shielding Service of free food parcels, medicine deliveries and care will stop, NHS Volunteer Responders will carry on delivering the food you buy, prescriptions and essential items to you if you need it, you will still be eligible for priority supermarket slots (if you have registered by 17 July), you can go to work, as long as the workplace is COVID-secure – but carry on working from home if you can, children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can go back to school (when the rest of their class goes back), you can go outside to buy food, to places of worship and for exercise – keeping 2 metres away wherever possible. Patients currently included on shielding lists could be advised that they can 'take more risk' under government plans to overhaul the system for identifying people most at risk from COVID-19. You may still be at risk of severe illness if you catch coronavirus, so stay at home as much as you can and continue to take precautions when you do go out. Frequently Asked Questions on shielding … We spent 749 hours fundraising or helping charities, Our people are involved in 54 charities or community groups. Shielding and other advice to the clinically extremely vulnerable has been and remains advisory. The four Chief Medical Officers in the UK have decided to add adults with Down’s syndrome to the list of people at the highest clinical risk from the COVID-19 virus, this is sometimes referred to as the ‘shielding list’. Changes to shielding guidance Update from 8th July 2020. Changes to the shielding guidance during data collection. Shielding ended in Wales on 16 August, but the Shielding Patients List is being maintained in case we need to write with any changes to the advice. From 1 August 2020, shielding will be relaxed and if a workplace is Covid-19 secure, shielding workers can return to work, but should still observe strict social distancing rules (though should remain working from home if they can). Everyone on the shielding list is being offered a free supply of vitamin D for 4 months over winter. Article share tools. The employee could agree to unpaid leave, or could be asked to take holiday if your work place is safe and you don’t feel it is appropriate to keep the employee on furlough. From 1 July, the flexible furlough scheme begins. Elderly and vulnerable get new shielding rules as lockdown changes set to take effect. A clinical discussion with your paediatric specialist or GP will be needed before any child or young person is removed from the shielded patient list. Employers can only flexibly furlough employees if they have made a claim under the original Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) by 31 July, for employees who had already been furloughed for a minimum period of three weeks beginning on or before 10 June; The main exception to the above is where an employee is returning from maternity, paternity or shared parental leave after this date. With Christmas just around the corner, and with concern over the dramatic rise in the…, Here's what you need to know about the extension of the furlough scheme. There’s also extra advice for those at higher risk from coronavirus, which you can choose to follow as well.. You can also find more information for people at higher risk from coronavirus at mygov.scot. Employers will therefore need to fully risk assess their working environment and comply with the latest Government guidance on working safely. A summary of the changes from 6 July are: The Shielding Patients List is being maintained so that we can write again to this group with any updates or if the advice on shielding changes. Employers must either vary the terms of the employee’s original furlough agreement, or enter into a new flexible furlough agreement with employees, to reflect the new arrangement. From 6th July some changes to government guidance for people who are shielding have been announced following a reduction in cases of Covid-19 in the community. In July, Government advice for those shielding in England will change. From 1 August, you’ll be advised you could go out to more places and see more people, for example, the advice is: This guidance will be updated with these changes on 1 August. People on the shielding list include solid organ transplant recipients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, pregnant women with heart disease and people with severe respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and severe asthma. ... the Chief Medical Officer for England has the power to order a return to shielding indoors for the most vulnerable in areas where local outbreaks get out of control. By pressing send and providing your details you are agreeing to our Privacy Notice. The past week has seen some major announcements from the Government which will change the way businesses are dealing with lockdown in England, including for shielding workers. Health services will be in touch with children and their families over the summer, ahead of the new school term, to discuss what the new evidence means for them personally in the longer term. If you are on the shielding list, you should follow the same advice as everyone else in your protection level. vulnerable to coronavirus: access to the shielded patient list data The needs of patients who followed shielding advice up to 1 August may have been exacerbated by the associated reduction in social support and contact. Patients who have been flagged with a communicable disease during this period (e.g. ... are on the NHS Digital shielded patients list. June 22, 2020. Changes to Shielding Guidance from 6th July but support continues… The UK Government has set out a roadmap for the clinically extremely vulnerable on the future of the shielding programme. New rules for those who are vulnerable. A summary of the changes from 6 July are: From 1 August, the government will pause shielding unless the transmission of COVID-19 in the community starts to rise significantly. The shielding patient list will be maintained in case it needs to be reactivated at a later date, the DHSC added. All children and young people should continue to shield until 31 July. Verity Slater is a partner in our Employment team. If an employee is refusing to return because they reasonably believe there is a danger to health and safety which is serious and imminent, dismissing them could be an automatically unfair dismissal (a claim which would not require two years’ service). By continuing to use our site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Government plan for 'smarter shielding' will relax advice for some at-risk patients. scarlet fever) will also have been added to the NHS Shielded Patient List. The government has made some changes to its guidance for people who are shielding because the transmission of COVID-19 in the community has gone down. Our website Digital Shielded patients list, the flexible furlough here from the shielding Behavioural Survey conducted. Or outside, while continuing to use our site, you are on the NHS Digital patients! 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