A diabetic Southmead Hospital worker says 'vulnerable staff' are being put at risk as bosses refuse to keep them on non-coronavirus wards.
The whistleblower, who wished not to be named, wants to return to work but - like many of her colleagues - she has been told she could be moved onto a ward with the virus despite her underlying health condition.
At the start of the pandemic, her illness meant she was high-risk.
During this period, the zero-contract worker was forced to move back in with her dad as she was not entitled to sick pay and could not afford her living costs.
Her condition has now been updated, placing her in the medium-risk and she is keen to return to the hospital, where she worked as a domestic.
But her bosses said they are unable to confirm if she could stay on a ward where patients don't have the deadly virus.
"Their priority is not that staff are safe but that they have enough staff to cover all the shifts," she said. "I could go and work on a green ward (non-coronavirus) and be moved mid-shift.
"There was no reassurance for me. I'm disappointed they're not focused on staff's health and more focused on having enough staff.
"I'm in the vulnerable category and it doesn't feel like they care about me.
"You would think because they're a hospital they would be used to putting people's health first."
The worker is also a student and plans to live with her dad until the beginning of the next academic year.
"My student loan isn't enough to cover my rent let alone all my other costs.
"It wasn't ideal having to move back in with my dad but he's been really supportive so I'm lucky in that sense."
A spokesman for North Bristol NHS Trust said the trust was 'currently carrying out risk assessments for all vulnerable staff and will make reasonable adjustments as necessary per an individual’s circumstances'.
He said: “We are also working through the updated Government guidance to support the return of our much valued shielding staff including those who work on the Bank.
“Bank staff can seek more advice and support directly via the Bank staff manager.”
