Kitchen workers at Ninewells Hospital may have been put at risk after an alleged lack of guidance led to some handling potentially contaminated items.
A source told The Courier no Covid-19 risk assessment was carried out in the department, despite workers coming into close contact with meal cards.
GMB union said this means staff did not have clear protocols on when to wear PPE, with some believed to have handled the objects without gloves.
Staff are reportedly angry and claim they were not notified after a worker tested positive and were not offered testing afterwards.
NHS Tayside say all those who have symptoms are offered testing and added managers stress the importance of PPE to staff, daily.
GMB Scotland organiser Helen Meldrum described the lack of protocols as a “horror story” and one of the worst she has heard throughout the pandemic.
She said: “I am absolutely appalled to learn that safe working practices at the kitchen in Ninewells have not been in place for weeks.
“For there to be no up to date Covid-19 risk assessment which has left GMB members to handle menu cards without any protection or infection control in place is quite frankly negligent.
“NHS Tayside are playing fast and loose with the health and well-being of staff and patients.
“Public health guidelines exist for a reason and if the NHS can’t follow these, what chance do we really have in our efforts to fight off the virus.”
A source in the hospital said many staff members feel they have been forgotten about, adding: “The worker, although not treated in hospital, ended up quite ill.
“Nobody was told about it and they were not offered testing, which is awful.
“The working environment is very tight and it is almost impossible to follow social distancing in.
“The rules for wearing PPE in the department are not clear. Some were told they can remove the face masks when not in wards. It’s high risk and they should be given clear guidance.”
An NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “NHS Tayside takes the health and wellbeing of all staff very seriously and all areas are provided with appropriate PPE.
“Testing is available for all members of staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 in line with national guidance.
“We are disappointed to read the comments from the GMB as there are ongoing local discussions with all our trades unions in partnership, who are fully involved in the effective management of staff safety in the workplace.
“There have been a number of changes in working practice within the kitchen at Ninewells in response to the current situation to ensure physical distancing.
“Appropriate PPE is provided, specifically gloves, disposable aprons and face masks.
“Staff are reminded at their daily huddle with the managers of the need to ensure physical distancing and the importance of PPE. There is no shortage of PPE within the catering department.”
