LONDON (UK) – Unions warned that doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 patients in Britain are putting their lives at risk due to a lack of protective kit for frontline staff.
The British government faces criticism from National Health Service (NHS) staff that all healthcare workers face a shortage of masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
British Health minister Matt Hancock said earlier that there was enough kit but a “Herculean” logistical effort was a need, backed up by the military, to ensure that the PPE reaches those on the frontline. 761 million items have been delivered so far.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said current supplies in London and Yorkshire were not enough and doctors faced a “heart-breaking” decision over whether to treat patients without protection and put themselves at risk, as a consequence.
“It is absurd that the people trained to treat this disease are the ones who are not being appropriately protected – and without them, we face real disaster.”
– Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair
Among the 9,000 people dead with COVID-19 in British hospitals, 19 of them were NHS workers, including 11 doctors. The government was not aware of any link between the deaths and an equipment shortage.
“It’s unclear whether the lack of PPE is directly linked to the recorded deaths of doctors so far, but we know that no healthcare workers have been infected in a hospital in Italy precisely because their PPE supplies are sufficient and of high-quality.”
– Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair
A BMA survey showed that over half the doctors reported a shortage or no face mask supply.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) stated that the figures on PPE deliveries would only be impressive when nurses no longer reported shortages.
PPE needs to be treated as a “precious resource” not to be used unnecessarily and has requested British manufacturers to offer production lines to manufacture more.
The suggestion of some PPE was being wasted provoked anger, according to the RCN.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
