CORONAVIRUS contact tracers in Scotland’s capital are paid thousands of pounds less than colleagues elsewhere in the country, the Sunday National can reveal.

The role of contact tracers is to speak to people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and talk them through who they have recently been in contact with, both in the days before the test result and subsequently.

Close contacts are required to self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test.

The principle behind the approach is to stop the spread of the virus by isolating those infected.

Jobs for contact tracers in NHS Lothian are advertised with a salary on band three of the health service payscale, which is from £21,709 to £23,603.

However, in other parts of Scotland, including in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Western Isles, adverts offer a salary at band five of the payscale, which is between £26,104 and £32,915.

In Lothian, only team leaders are on band-five salaries.

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NHS Lothian insists the jobs of a contact-tracing practitioner, such as those advertised in Glasgow and in the Western Isles, require more clinical experience than the contact-tracer role in its health board.

Unlike Glasgow and the Western Isles, NHS Lothian does not employ contact-tracing practitioners.

A recent advert for a contact-tracing practitioner in NHS Glasgow and Clyde does not ask for specialist clinical knowledge but stresses such skills as being able to remain calm under pressure, have an excellent telephone manner and demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills with an empathetic nature.

It says while candidates with previous experience in the health and social care sector are welcome, applications from others able to demonstrate the necessary skills are “encouraged”.

The advert states: “We now have a number of immediate opportunities, working from home with occasional requirement to be office-based from East Bank Training and Conference Centre in the East End of Glasgow, to join our already established Test and Protect Service, on a fixed-term contract.

“Successful candidates will work as part of a team providing support and guidance for Covid-19 related cases and their contacts.

“In this key role you will deal with complex Covid-19 queries and provide advice to the public and to health professionals in line with the protocols and procedures associated with the service.

“You will be required to undertake case interviews for complex cases and perform an initial public health risk assessment of cases identified for contact tracing in line with operating procedures and protocols.

“You will be required to work from detailed standard operating procedures and call scripts and apply appropriate questioning skills to extract accurate information from people with Covid-19 and their contacts, who may be in an agitated or anxious state or have communication difficulties.

“This role is demanding, challenging and at the same time highly rewarding. Applicants will need to demonstrate, through current/previous work experience, the ability to deal with often stressful and emotional conversations with the public.

“This is a unique opportunity which will suit those who can demonstrate a flexible approach to working in a service which regularly changes, with adaptable attitude while keeping calm under pressure.”

It adds: “To be successful in this position, you will be someone who can remain calm under pressure, demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills with an empathetic nature.

“The ability to evidence being able to work independently, manage and prioritise own workload and cope with competing demands is an essential requirement as is a high level of proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office products, electronic data information systems and it goes without saying – an exceptional telephone manner.

“Whilst experience in a health and social care setting is welcome, applications are also encouraged from candidates who can demonstrate through experience that they meet the essential requirements.”

The National:

Scottish Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie (above) said pay differences between health boards risked contact tracers moving from lower-paid areas to higher ones, potentially leading to recruitment problems.

Katie Dee, deputy director of public health in NHS Lothian, said: “NHS Lothian pays the nationally recognised and agreed pay for the contact-tracer role and the contact-tracer team lead role in line with all other boards.

“Some boards have created an additional role of contact-tracing practitioner to provide clinical expertise, however this was not necessary at NHS Lothian due to the level of clinical support available within the team and from our health protection specialists in our public health team.”