Staff at several NHS hospitals were wrongly told to go to work when they should have been self-isolating, it has emerged.

Doctors and nurses were advised they could work even if someone else in their home had symptoms of coronavirus – despite official guidance being that their household should self-isolate for 14 days if anyone shows signs of the symptoms.

On Monday night, after the advice to the public had changed, the Worcestershire Acute Hospital, in the West Midlands, sent out a briefing to staff saying: “We have been told that this guidance will not apply to healthcare workers.”

It advised staff to work as normal as long as they did not have symptoms.

Elsewhere some staff at Calderdale and Huddersfield Trust said they were told self-isolating would need to be taken as annual leave if they chose not to work with “contradictory messages” between the trust and departments.

A trust spokeswoman clarified saying any staff member who isolated due to a family member showing symptoms would be classed as a “medical suspension” which would not affect their sickness record and be fully paid.

A message seen by The Independent to obstetrics and gynaecology staff at the South Tyneside and Sunderland Trust said: “For now we are sticking to the current advice that staff members may come to work unless they are symptomatic of a cough or fever. We are not advising self-isolation if a staff member has an unwell household member.”

Yesterday NHS England’s chief nurse responded to questions on social media making clear the guidance applied to all staff. Later on Tuesday the hospitals issued new guidance in line with Public Health England’s advice.

The government has urged everyone to self-isolate for at least 14 days if anyone they live with shows signs of coronavirus, either a persistent cough or high fever.

On Wednesday the government faced criticism over its lack of testing for NHS staff as the effect of this and the advice to isolate for 14 days means many hospitals are concerned they will have many staff unable to work.

Emergency legislation is planned to help the NHS use recently retired nurses and doctors to help staff wards.

The health service is planning to cancel all routine operations from 15 April to try and free up 30,000 beds to prepare for an expected surge in coronavirus cases within the next two to three weeks with large numbers needing oxygen and intensive care.