All foreseeable but made worse by PPE shortages - From NHS Barnet pandemic plan from 2016 which lkely is much the same around the country.
6.3 Failure to attend work
Barnet CCGs expects that unless members of staff are unwell themselves, it will be exceptional for the member of staff to not be able to attend work in some capacity. Staff who do not attend work because they are unwell should follow the locally agreed sickness absence policy outlined to them at the beginning of an influenza pandemic. Staff who display symptoms should be sent home and advised not to work until fully recovered. Staff should also be informed in an appropriate way of the risks associated with pandemic influenza and what action they can take to protect themselves and others, and instructing them not to attend work when they are symptomatic but to attend work when they are well
Staff with caring responsibilities should be dealt with on a sympathetic basis but at the same time, Barnet CCG and staff should be working together to try and agree attendance at work in some capacity. Home working may be a feasible option for some staff. The nature of the support could vary, for example a mix of paid and unpaid leave, building on existing carers leave provisions. Some staff may be reluctant to come to work due to fear of infection. Initially, efforts should be made to convince staff to attend work by direct approaches from clinical colleagues and Occupational Health.
The level of anxiety that an influenza pandemic is likely to generate should be acknowledged and Barnet CCG should seek to persuade rather than penalise. However, Barnet CCG should not rule out the possibility of having to apply disciplinary action, subject to disciplinary policies and procedures for unauthorised absence or failure to follow a reasonable management instruction. Barnet CCG will need to recognise that some individuals may be deemed at ‘higher risk’ than others due to health conditions and special consideration may need to be given to these staff, including Occupational Health advice and support. For further advice, please contact the HR business partner at NEL CSU.
Every NHS organisation is required to have a Pandemic Influenza Lead to drive local pandemic influenza planning. The ultimate responsibility for pandemic preparedness and planning resides with Chief Executives as described in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
