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Boris Johnson is under pressure to start a public investigation into his government’s “grotesque failure” to provide NHS frontline workers with enough protective gear.
And last night, when an RAF plane took off for Turkey in hopes of collecting 84 tons of PPE that was promised three days ago, an NHS chief demanded an end to “word of mouth” deliveries.
Chris Hopson, executive director of providers for the NHS, said the 400,000 dresses in the shipment would be welcome, but that it was not even a three-day supply since staff were wearing approximately 150,000 dresses per day.
He demanded “sustainable supplies” that arrive “consistently and reliably.”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady asked ministers to commit to an independent investigation by a judge into distribution problems starting at the end of the year.
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(Image: via REUTERS)
She said: “Every day, front-line workers are forced to risk their lives because they don’t have the proper protective equipment.
“And now they are being told to just do it. This is a grotesque failure of planning and preparation.
“It should never be allowed to happen again. Our NHS, social care, and key workers deserve better. ”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted that the delivery of EPP has been “a great challenge.”
Authorities say 43 health workers have died from Covid-19, but NHS nursing staff says the number is more than 100.
The Mirror’s Protect Us campaign requires that all frontline personnel obtain sufficient safety equipment. Foreign Minister Rishi Sunak was asked at yesterday’s briefing No. 10 if the government was “ashamed” of its failures in the PPE. He said staff should “be sure” that ministers were doing “everything we can”.
He said the RAF was waiting to obtain the kit from Turkey “as soon as possible” and that 140,000 Myanmar dresses had already arrived. He said, “Everyone who works incredibly hard on the front line deserves to have the equipment they need.” Hopson said there was “relatively little confidence” that the Turkish shipment would ever arrive.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
(Image: 10 Downing Street / AFP via Getty)
He said that the NHS trusts had to wash single-use robes and restrict stocks to key areas. The NHS Confederation, which represents healthcare organizations, said delays in shipping from Turkey worsened “a difficult situation.” Dr. Rachel Clarke said NHS workers and social care staff were told to wear “small plastic aprons” that left them in danger.
She said, “They don’t cover your arms, your neck, and the upper part of your chest. That means you have an increased risk of contracting coronavirus and infecting patients.” In response to the request for a public investigation, a No10 spokesperson said: “The most important thing is to focus on responding to the current situation.”
A nursing home owner has asked the government to bring in the military to deliver desperately needed PPE.
Justin Russi, head of the Hawthorns Lodge Care Group, recounted how his staff was struggling to breathe with the masks issued so far.
He said: “In times of national crisis, the Government has the power to turn to the armed forces, which have fleets of vehicles. They can have the armed forces deliver and distribute, but the government has not bothered to do so. “
This week there were four Covid-19 deaths in their northeast care homes.
He said, “Their families had to look out the bottom window.”
Health Secretary Mr. Hancock has promised that all home care staff and residents showing symptoms of Covid-19 will be evaluated as capacity increases.
Mr. Russi said: “The shortage of PPE in nursing homes and nursing homes is a terrible indictment for our local authorities and the government. They should be ashamed.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Assistance said: “We are ensuring that millions of additional items of PPE reach those on the front line.”
Three printing companies have joined forces to manufacture EPP. Precision Printing in London, Nottingham’s Prime Group and Proco Print in Sheffield will manufacture 10,000 visors per day.
The government is considering keeping a minute of silence for NHS workers who died from the coronavirus, following a campaign by Labor leader Keir Starmer.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC: “I think it is a very good idea.”
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