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Doctors and nurses will be asked to treat coronavirus patients without fully protective gowns and to reuse the equipment for fear of shortages.
The decision came in a reversal of the orientation to Public Health England hospitals on Friday.
Earlier this week, the BBC reported that the plan was being considered a “last resort.”
It occurs when NHS providers warned that some hospitals’ supplies could run out in 24 hours.
Chris Hopson, head of the association, which represents healthcare trusts across England, said in a tweet: “We have reached the point where national stocks of fluid-repellent coats and long-sleeved lab coats will run out in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
He said that national leaders have left “no stone unturned,” but that the dresses that were ordered weeks ago are only arriving in “adjustments and starts.”
Public Health England changed its orientation, which until now required long-sleeved, disposable, and fluid-repellent gowns for people treating patients with Covid-19.
Now he says that if these gowns are not available, staff can wear washable medical gowns or non-liquid repellent equipment.
Documents seen by the BBC said the measures were considered earlier this week to deal with the “acute shortage of supply”
It occurs when the UK recorded 847 new coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals on Thursday, totaling 14,576.
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A Health Department spokesperson said: “A new clinical council has been issued today to make sure that if there is a shortage in an area, front-line staff know what PPE to use to minimize risk.”
And Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he “would love to be able to wave a magic wand” to increase the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).
“But since we have a global situation where there is less PPE in the world than the world needs, it will obviously be a great pressure point,” he told a virtual committee of parliamentarians.
Hancock admitted that the supply of dresses was “tight” but said his goal was to get enough dresses for the staff this weekend.
He added that the government was doing everything possible “to bring that PPE to the front line.”
Dr Rob Harwood, Chairman of the British Medical Association’s Advisory Committee, said: “If it is proposed that staff reuse equipment, this must be demonstrably driven by science and best evidence, rather than availability , and cannot absolutely compromise the protection of healthcare workers
“Too many health workers have already died. More doctors and colleagues cannot be expected to risk their own lives in an attempt to save others, and this new advice means they could be doing exactly that. It is not a decision they should. to have to do.”
At least 50 NHS workers have died after contracting coronavirus.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “Week after week, we heard of problems at the PPE getting to the front line despite what ministers told us at Downing Street press conferences.
“This continued failure needs redress and ministers must explain how they will urgently fix it.”
In other developments:
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