The safety of clinical students and their patients is of paramount importance as students return to clinical placements. As for all staff working in clinical environments, we need to carry out a risk assessment for clinical students to ensure that those who may be at increased risk from Covid-19 receive appropriate advice. This risk assessment form is an initial ‘screening’ tool. Students who might be at increased risk based on information provided here will require more detailed discussion and assessment, usually in collaboration with the University Occupational Health Service. These students will be contacted directly after submitting the form.

Clinical students, irrespective of individual risk, will be treated with the same care as all other NHS staff, and will receive guidance and any appropriate PPE where required on return to clinical placements.

Age, gender and ethnicity

We know that many of you from non - white ethnic backgrounds may have special concerns relating to your risk from Covid-19.  By far the most important factor, across the whole population, in the determinant of risk is age. Calculated during the peak 9 weeks of the pandemic, the risk across the population of 15 – 24-year olds was found to be around 1:200 000 – and as the prevalence of infection falls, so does the risk. The risk doubles every 6 – 7 years, but remains very low under the age of 45 (for comparison, the risk of dying in a road traffic accident in this age group is about 1:25 000).

Across the population, men have a risk approximately twice that of women.

There is a variation in risk across different ethnic groups, adjusted for age and co-morbidity.  Compared to white British ethnicity, all non-white British ethnic groups have been found to be at higher risk, whilst there is a reduced risk in those of white Irish backgrounds.

Age is by far the strongest determinant of risk of dying from Covid-19.  Even if there is a doubling of risk related to gender or ethnicity the resulting increase in absolute risk is extremely small because of the very low risk based on age. 

Should you require further advice or guidance please contact welfare@medschl.cam.ac.uk.

Data protection: All information provided within this document will remain confidential

and secure in line with GDPR, tailored by the Data Protection Act (2018). This information

will be visible to Senior Academic Staff, Occupational Health and Registry

and other relevant University officials. If there is an identified risk to either yourself or

someone else, we have a duty of care to disclose this information to the relevant

authorities. Whilst every attempt will be made to include you in this decision, this may not

always be possible.

Very High Risk (Red)

1. Solid organ transplant recipients
2. People with specific cancers:
   • People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
   • People with lung cancer who are undergoing active radical radiotherapy
   • People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
   • People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
   • People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
   • People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
3. People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
4. People with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell)
5. People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
6. Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired (at any stage of pregnancy)
7. People with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis), frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome of those with a current nephrotic range proteinuria, etc.
8. People with a neurological condition that has been identified as high risk as detailed in the guidance from the Association of British Neurologists Guidance on COVID-19 for people with neurological conditions, their doctors and carers available at the following link - https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.theabn.org/resource/collection/65C334C7-30FA-45DB-93AA-74B3A3A20293/ABN_Neurology_COVID-19_Guidance_v6_9.4.20_FP.pdf
9. Women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant
10. Asthmatics who are on high dose inhaled steroids

HIGH RISK (orange)

1. Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
2. Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
3. Chronic kidney disease
4. Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
5. Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
6. Diabetes
7. A weakened immune system as the result of medical conditions or medication (contact the Clinical School if you are uncertain)
8. Splenic problems – for example, sickle cell disease or asplenia
9. Being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
10. Pregnancy (before 28 weeks)
11. Poorly controlled hypertension, secondary hypertension or hypertension with an associated cardiac condition.

Individuals who have two or more risk factors in this group (or smoke) may have a higher level of vulnerability to COVID-19. If you are concerned that this may apply to you please contact welfare@medschl.cam.ac.uk