The definition of frontline health workers is important when applying this to testing and vaccinations, volunteers who are patient facing should receive the same protection as afforded to NHS staff, below is a section from an official NHSE/I letter circulated to NHS Chief Executives on 19th August 2021.

Definition of frontline healthcare workers
The definition of frontline healthcare workers includes clinical and non-clinical staff who
have contact with patients. This is as set out in the C1008 Operational Guidance of
Frontline Healthcare Workers.

This definition, as applied to trust staff, includes – but is not limited to – the following:

• staff who have frequent face-to-face contact with patients
• laboratory, pathology and mortuary staff
• those working for a sub-contracted provider of facilities services such as
portering or cleaning
• temporary, locum or ‘bank’ staff, including those working in the COVID-19
vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with
patients.

Please note that for flu this extends the definition used in the Green Book to include non-clinical staff.