The debate about the lack of availability of suitable PPE for frontline health and social care workers continues to rumble. Here is the latest information and comment, with links to more detail.
Unions
Unions are calling for greater honesty and transparency and have criticised the government’s decision to change the PPE guidance. GMB calls the move “downright dangerous” and has written to the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care demanding urgent answers to five core questions relating to this decision.
The full letter may be downloaded here.
NHS Providers
Writing in a blog, Chris Hopson, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, cautions that the public debate around PPE is in danger of getting stuck in an unhelpful rut.
He also calls for certainty on the delivery of gowns and says focusing on individual consignments is unhelpful.
Olympic Chief appointed to help
Paul Deighton, London 2012 Chief Exec, has been appointed to lead the national effort to produce essential PPE.
Revised guidance
The revised guidance issued by the government late last week, following a review of options by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), approves the sessional and reuse of PPE where there are acute shortages and where it is safe to do so. It also states that these are exceptional circumstances and do not reflect HSE’s standard approach.
Experts respond
Responding to this revised guidance, UK anaesthetic and intensive care bodies* have issued a detailed statement saying “Our organisations have to consider whether recently updated guidance represents an erosion of PPE standards.”
*Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Intensive Care Society, Association of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Anaesthetists.
