Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support NHS staff who are unable to attend work as they live with a person who is shielding.

Government advice recommends that those National Health Service staff who live with a person who is shielding do not have to adopt shielding measures themselves but must follow advice in social distancing and hygiene to minimise the spread of the virus at home.

Employers should be supporting their staff to stay well and to protect their families and guidance has been published by NHS Employers to provide support NHS Human Resources Directors. The guidance provides specific advice on what employers should do to support those staff who live with someone who is shielding. More information is available at this link:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/covid19/staff-terms-and-conditions/staff-terms-and-conditions-faqs/pay#Shielding