Scottish doctors and nurses will not be exempt from the UK quarantine rules requiring travellers from abroad to self-isolate for 14 days.
A loophole in the Home Office’s quarantine means that medical staff returning from abroad to England will be able to avoid the 14-day isolation rule, but the Scottish government has ruled out an exemption.
The guidelines outlined by Home Secretary Priti Patel makes it clear that in England doctors, nurses and other “registered” NHS workers can travel abroad and then go straight back to work without the fortnight’s quarantine.
But NHS England advice that “non-clinical” workers such as healthcare assistants, cleaners and support staff would have to self-isolate for two weeks unpaid or take annual leave has led to accusations of a “two-tier” system.
Unions have highlighted how care workers and hospital support staff will be denied the travel privileges given to medics.
A Scottish government spokesman said the rules were tougher in Scotland and there would be no exceptions for doctors and nurses.
The official said: “Basically our position is we don’t have the same exemption and all healthcare workers coming into Scotland from abroad will have to self-isolate for 14 days before being able to work in a hospital or care home.”
The rule will apply to medical staff even if they fly into the UK through an English airport and travel on to their place of residence in Scotland.
The 14-day restriction, which began on Monday, requires all passengers arriving in the UK from around the world to fill in forms to confirm they will self-isolate before being free to carry on their business or work.
Matt Hancock, the UK Health Secretary, played down the exemption as applying to a very small number of people when challenged on the issue at the Downing Street press conference on Monday.
Hauliers, defence and diplomatic staff, and oil workers among others are exempt from the quarantine as are “registered health or care professionals travelling to the UK to provide essential healthcare, including where this is not related to coronavirus”.
However the guidance for Scotland states that health or care professionals “will need to self-isolate for 14 days if you are staying in Scotland”.
