Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that NHS Trusts (a) financially support NHS staff who have to take unpaid leave to look after dependents that have to isolate as a result of covid-19 contact tracing; and (b) make retrospective payments to those key workers for time they have to take off unpaid for those purposes during the covid-19 outbreak.

We are working to ensure all National Health Service employees feel supported during the pandemic and have worked with NHS Employers on publishing guidance to help employers adapt to the challenges COVID-19 has presented for their staff. For those who are having to take time away from work due to their child’s requirement to self-isolate, the guidance states that employers should be as supportive and flexible as possible.

The guidance is being regularly updated to ensure it reflects the current situation and is available at the following link:

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