Coronavirus - what you need to know

We have published guidance for healthcare professionals on COVID-19 infection in pregnancy with the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health, Public Health England and Health Protection Scotland. 

We have also produced some FAQs for pregnant women. These may also be helpful for use in practice.

For the latest information in relation to midwifery and nursing students in all fields, who are not in the final six months of their programme. we have published the joint statement here

For the latest occupational health advice for employers and pregnant women we have published the latest update

For all pregnant healthcare workers, we have published a position that all employers must abide by. Women who have reached 28 weeks' gestation or who have a underlying health condition such as heart or lung disease should be particularly attentive to social distancing and minimising contact with others.

These women should not have direct patient contact. This information will help employers make the right decisions about ensuring the safety of their pregnant workers alongside the legal requirements. Clinical guidance will be updated on a regular basis as new evidence becomes available. Read full position here.

The guidance produced is based on the best clinical evidence available, all of which suggest that pregnant women who are otherwise healthy are not at any elevated risk of contracting covid. However, the PM’s definition of pregnant women as vulnerable puts them into a different category according to employment law.

This puts additional requirements on employers to ensure the health and safety of the pregnant workforce which are not reflected in the current clinical guidance. We are currently working with the Chief Medical Officers of the four nations to resolve this, to ensure that all pregnant healthcare workers are afforded the right level of safety and support according to the law.

In addition, we have, with NHS Employers and other healthcare unions, circulated guidance for employers and workplace to support local discussions and decision-making.

We are also working with NHS organisations, including NHS England, to make sure we can get the best advice to you as quickly as possible, including making sure information is being provided directly to you by your NHS Trust or Board. We strongly advise you to check our social media channels, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to ensure you have the most up-to-date information