During the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS Occupational Health services in Plymouth and Truro quickly recognised the need for accurate identification, monitoring and management of exposure to nCoV-19 virus in the workplace.

We had recognised several issues arising as the pandemic began to intensify. These affected a) the health and wellbeing of NHS staff exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace, b) patients, as high risk exposure increases the risk of transmission of the virus, preventing outbreaks within a clinical environment, protecting staffing levels and allowing healthcare services to continue.

A system of identification and assessment of staff and their risk from contact with COVID-19 was developed. Using this assessment, staff were advised on action, ranging from no additional action needed, to a swab with no isolation period to full 14 day isolation. There have been positive outcomes since the introduction of the system. At RCHT only 18% of staff whom have had contact with a COVID-19 positive patient or staff member have been required to self-isolate. This is a vast improvement over the potential 100% whom would have had to self-isolate were simple guidance of isolating after any contact followed without exploring the risk further.

By the end of April 2020, the contact tracing services in UHPT and RCHT were well established; the only local services in the country at the time. Public Health England (PHE) were kept informed of our policies and aided in some of the finer details. Multiple NHS trusts across the South West have started to implement similar systems working in close collaboration to ensure consistency across the region. Weekly regional meetings now take place virtually between occupational health services across the region, facilitated by the occupational health service at RCHT. The development of the service has left the participating trusts in a much better position for any further increase in cases of COVID-19, protecting an essential workforce.