Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Economics, government & businessLatest NewsEmployment lawHR practiceSickness absence

Swine flu: volunteer babysitters considered to watch medics’ children

by Personnel Today 28 Sep 2009
by Personnel Today 28 Sep 2009

NHS workers in Scotland attending to a major swine flu outbreak could see local volunteers and teachers recruited to babysit their children, the Scotsman has reported.

Emergency plans are being drawn up in the Lothians to house children in schools and other centres while their parents care for H1N1 victims.

About 20,000 NHS Lothian workers with young children would be able to work evenings and weekends under the contingency plans.

Experts believe the second wave of the infection is approaching.

NHS Lothian’s vice-chairman, Eddie Egan, said: “We have asked if we could get NHS Lothian staff’s kids to schools. It’s a major risk so we are trying to mitigate that. The use of volunteers would also be looked at.”

HR director Alan Boyter added: “Using a school and teachers could be one of the ways we could circumvent the problem.”

The NHS is also considering asking former nurses to step out of retirement and arranging for medical students to be temporarily promoted to cope with demands.

The newspaper also reported that the European Working Time Directive, recently brought in to cap the hours which nurses and doctors can work to 48 per week, would be temporarily abandoned until the situation was brought under control.

NHS Lothian employs 28,000 staff, of whom around 20,000 are thought to be parents with children who would require looking after.

It is anticipated the swine flu vaccine will arrive sometime next month, and 55,000 doses a week will be administered, with priority being given to at-risk people such as asthmatics, pregnant women and others in poor health.

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Bankers’ bonuses targeted as Labour prepares for election
next post
Rate your employer website launches

You may also like

Pay all care workers a £10.50 hourly minimum...

30 Jun 2022

Royal Mail managers vote to strike over restructure

30 Jun 2022

Give wellbeing a board seat: Prof Sir Cary...

30 Jun 2022

One in five workplaces lack LGBT support policies

30 Jun 2022

Christian doctor loses transgender pronoun case, but beliefs...

29 Jun 2022

New chief workforce officer at NHS England

29 Jun 2022

Staff shortages affecting business growth at three in...

29 Jun 2022

MP seeks action on Passport Office’s ‘toxic’ working...

29 Jun 2022

Six in 10 seek help with cost of...

29 Jun 2022

What has cyber security got to do with...

29 Jun 2022

  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today