COVID-19 Testing

About 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms but can still infect others. All staff are expected to do a rapid test twice a week (every 3 to 4 days) to check if they have the virus.

If people test positive and self-isolate, it helps stop the virus spreading.

Even if you’re vaccinated, there’s still a chance you can pass COVID-19 on, so you should keep getting tested regularly.

Just like washing your hands and wearing the right PPE, self-testing is a vital part of our infection prevention and control process.

There is a strong expectation from NHS England and from our executive team, that all staff should take part in twice-weekly lateral flow COVID-19 testing. So please support this effort for the continued safety of our patients and each other.

Ordering testing kits

NHS England has changed the process for staff to obtain lateral flow testing kits. These will now be issued by NHS Test and Trace, rather than by individual NHS trusts.

There is no change to the way you should report your test results. You should continue to report the result of every test on the Trust’s portal – you should not report your results on the NHS Test and Trace portal as described in the instructions that accompany the testing kits.

Testing kits should now be ordered online directly through NHS Test and Trace

In the first instance, you should order testing kits from the national system or collect these locally.

• Visit gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests(use Google Chrome if you are doing this on a Trust device)
• Follow the instructions and selecting ‘yes’ to the question ‘Do you work for the NHS in England and take part in their staff testing programme?’

If you do not already have one, it’s best to create an account when you place your first order. This should only take a few minutes and will retain your ordering information so it will be quicker for you to order future tests.

You will be sent a box containing 7 tests and you should reorder more when your supply runs low. You can order 1 box of tests every day.

The tests are very similar to those previously issued by the Trust.

Follow all the instructions that are included within the kit (except for Step 6 ‘Report your result’). There are some useful videos below that provide step-by-step instructions.

COVID-19 boosters and flu vaccinations

Boost your immunity this winter

It is expected that COVID-19 infections will continue to circulate in the coming months, alongside seasonal influenza and other respiratory viruses.

The COVID-19 vaccines provide high levels of protection against hospitalisation or dying from the virus. To maintain this high level of protection through the coming winter, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is advising that booster vaccines be offered to those more at risk from serious disease, including frontline healthcare workers. The Government has asked us to co-ordinate this with our annual flu vaccination programme where possible.

Both flu and COVID-19 are life threatening viruses which, this winter, could put us under more pressure than ever before. So we are encouraging all Trust staff to take up the offer of both jabs as soon as possible.

Appointments

Please book your appointment by emailing [email protected] (please allow 48 hours for a response), or calling 020 7188 4040 (ext 84040).

Booking your appointment is the best way to ensure a time to suit you, but we’re aware that some staff need the flexibility of a walk-in service. You can walk in and get your jabs at the following times:

• Guy’s
  London Bridge Vaccination Centre 2, 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday.
• St Thomas’ 
  Vaccination Centre 2, 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday.

Please come to the front of the queue at our vaccine centres and show your NHS staff ID badge. It’s also helpful to bring your NHS number too, if you have it (you can get this through the NHS app). You should allow 45 minutes for your appointment if you are having both vaccines, or 30 minutes if you are just having your flu jab.