Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2021 to Question 70317 on Coronavirus: Disease Control, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that clinicians and employers are provided with clear and practical guidance that promotes safe working for people who are immunocompromised.

This question was answered on 5th January 2022

The Government continues to provide up-to-date guidance for businesses, to assist employers to take reasonable steps to manage the risks of COVID-19 and help protect their staff. ‘Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)’ is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19

Employers and employees should find pragmatic solutions on a case by case basis, noting that each employee’s personal situation and the requirements of their work may be different. If individuals cannot work from home, they should speak to their employer regarding temporary arrangements which can be made to reduce risk in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance ‘Working safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’ for vulnerable workers assists employers to talk to their workers about any individual concerns and is available at the following link:

www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm

This is also linked to the Government’s guidance on supporting people who are immunocompromised.

We issued updated public health advice on 24 December 2021 for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19, which is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk

NHS England and NHS Improvement have also written to general practices and hospital trusts in England to raise awareness of this guidance.