HUNDREDS of NHS staff could be redeployed because they face a high risk of dying from coronavirus as new guidance, which could “destablise” some GP practices, urges employers to put measures in place to protect their workers.

National guidance on workplace risk assessments, based on age, ethnicity, gender, underlying health conditions and pregnancy, has been issued for NHS organisations and could affect some social workers and care homes too.

A total of 827 employees at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have been identified as “high risk” or “very high risk” – including 221 who are already “shielding”.

The trust which operates Royal Bolton Hospital is contacting staff individually to discuss their needs and providing computer equipment to undertake “meaningful” work from home – which many employees are already doing.

Director of workforce James Mawrey said the trust takes the safety and wellbeing of all its staff “extremely seriously”.

He said: “We are currently following national guidance in undertaking health risk assessments of all our black and minority ethnic colleagues in the wake of emerging evidence that they may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

“This is something that we have also been doing for staff members who fall into other higher risk groups due to their age, medical history or pregnancy.

“The roles that people do here at the trust vary considerably and so it is important that we continue to treat everyone as an individual and take whatever action is necessary to protect both their mental and physical health.

“COVID-19 is having a significant impact on the way we all live our lives and has meant we have had to do things differently.

“However, we have robust plans in place to ensure we continue to provide the best possible care to our patients while keeping those who work at the trust safe.”

Bolton clinical commissioning group chair, Dr Wirin Bhatiani, wrote to GP practices across Greater Manchester last week urging them to put “appropriate measures” in place to protect high risk staff from harm.

But he warned that the guidance for GPs could “destablise” smaller surgeries which have a majority of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) workforce.

The letter said: “Emerging UK and international data suggest that people from BAME backgrounds are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

“Public Health England have been asked by the Department of Health and Social Care to investigate this.

“However, in advance of their report, it is recommended that employers should risk assess staff at potentially greater risk and make appropriate arrangements accordingly.”

The council’s executive cabinet member for adult services, Andy Morgan, said full risk assessments should be carried out for all staff taking into account medical conditions, age as well as guidance relating to BAME employees.

But the Conservative councillor, who owns a care home in Deane, said staff at Bakewells do not want to be treated differently due to their ethnicity.

He said: “None of my BAME staff have expressed any concern because of their ethnicity and would not be happy if they were treated any differently from that of their colleagues that they have been working alongside since the outbreak of the pandemic.

“There are already significant staffing pressures within the home care and care home settings and any additional blanket conditions being imposed would only exacerbate this situation.

“Our main priority is the health and safety of all our staff, their families and the people we are employed to serve and this has always been the case.”

Cllr Debbie Newall now chairs the steering group for Bolton Cares, the council-owned arms-length adult care company – the borough’s largest care provider.

She said: “The health and wellbeing of all our staff is paramount at Bolton Cares, but where any particular group or community are seen to be at risk, then of course, every effort should be made to protect them.”