COVID-19 - Key Healthcare Worker Testing
| Please note this information is for healthcare workers. If you don't work in healthcare and need information on how to arrange a NHS test for coronavirus please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/. |
There are two routes that key healthcare workers who are self-isolating as they or a member of their family have symptoms of COVID-19 can book a test. They can use the national self-referral portal or they can use a locally set up employer referral route which is being co-ordinated by CCG’s on the North and South Bank of the river.
The LMC recommends that practices refer their self-isolating staff for a test through the CCG co-ordinated route as this gives preferential booking status, unlike the self-referral route. Practices DO NOT need to register as an employer on the government portal.
Tests are available for people who are symptomatic. You can identify staff members or members of their household who meet the criteria for swab testing using the guidance at www.gov.uk/getting-tested-for-coronavirus.
Practices located in Hull CCG and East Riding CCG should follow the pathway process and complete and email the template which can be found below:
- Hull and East Riding Pathway - Staff Screening COVID (pdf)
- Hull and East Riding - Daily Staff Swabbing Priority List Template (Excel)
Practices located in North Lincolnshire CCG and North East Lincolnshire CCG should follow the process and complete and email the template which can be found below:
- North and North East Lincolnshire Process - COVID-19 Testing (Word)
- North and North East Lincolnshire - Referral for Health and Social Care Swabbing (Word)
If you have an employee who cannot drive or be driven to the testing centre then a home test can be requested but this can only be done through the national self-referral site which can be accessed via: https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/
This guidance differs from that you may have seen as currently small employers such as practices are not able to register their company on the employers referral portal at this stage as only major employers are eligible currently. This may change in the future and we will inform you at that stage.
There is a possibility of false negatives from this test largely due to the swabbing process. Guidance to employers from PHE about negative results is contained within the document on the following link:
COVID-19 Antibody Testing for practice staff members
See our news item for more information.
More information can be found on our coronavirus page. Practices who have any queries relating to COVID-19 testing can contact LMC on 01482 655111 or email at: humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net.