PPE shortages leave two in three doctors ‘feeling unsafe’
The BMA today (7 April) urged the Government to ‘get a grip’ and give cast-iron assurances that all doctors can be guaranteed access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and be properly protected against Covid-19.
Over two-thirds of 2,000 doctors responding to a new survey for the association said that they do not feel safely protected from the coronavirus infection where they work.
More than half of doctors working in high-risk environments said there were either shortages or no supply at all of adequate face masks
65% said they had no access to eye protection.
55% said they felt pressurised to work in a high-risk area despite not having adequate PPE.
Nearly 90% of GPs in contact with Covid patients reported either shortages or no access at all to eye protection, and 62% reported problems with supply of facemasks.
36% of hospital doctors said capacity had significantly reduced because of colleagues having to self-isolate.
27% of hospital doctors reported running low on basic anti-infection supplies such as soap.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul
BMA leader Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: ‘Despite assurances from the Government that personal protective equipment is making its way to the front line, this snapshot survey reveals a very different picture – healthcare workers in the UK simply do not have enough protective equipment to keep them safe.’
Most doctors reported that they had not had either the advice or the training needed to properly fit, put on and take off PPE.
He continued: ‘For weeks now, the Government has assured us that equipment is being rolled out, that the supply issues will be fixed. It has also repeatedly told healthcare workers they will have priority access to testing.
‘This survey shows this is not the reality and doctors have told us they have little confidence in the Government to support and protect them. Doctors, indeed all healthcare workers, feel badly let down.
‘Increasing numbers of healthcare workers are dying from Covid-19 in the UK, including four doctors, and it is frankly disgraceful that front-line staff are still expected to work unprotected. We must protect doctors so they can protect patients.’