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Coronavirus: Doctors' lives at risk over PPE shortages, says BMA Coronavirus: NHS workers' lives at risk over PPE shortages, says BMA
(about 1 hour later)
A doctors' union has said many of its members are still not getting the protective equipment they need to treat patients with coronavirus. NHS staff still do not have the protective equipment they need to treat coronavirus patients, medics have said.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said doctors were putting their lives at risk. The British Medical Association (BMA) said doctors were putting their lives at risk by working without adequate protection.
On Friday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was enough kit for everyone and unveiled a plan for addressing shortages. It comes as the health secretary said 19 NHS workers had died with coronavirus since the outbreak began.
On Friday, Matt Hancock said there was enough kit for everyone and unveiled a plan for addressing shortages.
The UK recorded 980 hospital deaths on Thursday, bringing the total to 8,958.The UK recorded 980 hospital deaths on Thursday, bringing the total to 8,958.
That death toll, which does not include those who died in care homes or the community, has exceeded the worst daily figures seen in Italy and Spain. That death toll, which does not include those who died in care homes or the community, has exceeded the worst daily figures seen in Italy and Spain - but according to England's deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, it is still "impossible to say we have peaked".
But England's deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, warned it was "impossible to say we have peaked", adding that the measures the country was taking with social distancing needed to continue. Mr Hancock told the BBC the government was looking into how NHS staff who had died with the virus were infected.
Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 19 NHS workers had died with coronavirus since the start of the outbreak. However, he said it was important to note that some may have caught it outside of work.
"Mr heart goes out to each and every one," he said. "But that doesn't take away from the bravery of every single NHS worker," he said, adding that his "heart goes out" to those who have died and their families.
Mr Hancock said the government would look into how they were infected, subject to family consent, however he said it was important to note that some NHS staff may have caught the virus outside of work. Mr Hancock said he was "particularly struck at the high proportion of people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people who have come to this country to work in the NHS who have died of coranavirus".
"But that doesn't take away from the bravery of every single NHS worker," he added.
Speaking shortly afterwards on BBC Breakfast, Mr Hancock said he was "particularly struck at the high proportion of people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people who have come to this country to work in the NHS who have died of coranavirus."
"It is a testament to the fact that people who have come from all over the world have come and given their lives in service to the NHS and paid for that with their lives," he said, adding that "we should recognise their enormous contribution"."It is a testament to the fact that people who have come from all over the world have come and given their lives in service to the NHS and paid for that with their lives," he said, adding that "we should recognise their enormous contribution".
Meanwhile, supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) in London and Yorkshire are at "dangerously low levels", according to the BMA. Supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) in London and Yorkshire are at "dangerously low levels", according to the BMA.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said doctors are being forced into a corner and face "heart-breaking decisions" over whether to carry on without proper protection. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said doctors were being forced into a corner and faced "heart-breaking decisions" over whether to carry on without proper protection.
He said: "This is an immensely difficult position to be in, but is ultimately down to the government's chronic failure to supply us with the proper equipment."He said: "This is an immensely difficult position to be in, but is ultimately down to the government's chronic failure to supply us with the proper equipment."
'Precious resource''Precious resource'
BBC health editor Hugh Pym said some NHS and care workers say they are still struggling to get protective equipment and felt unsafe, despite earlier pledges by the government. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has dismissed any suggestion that healthcare staff have been overusing PPE.
Our correspondent asked Mr Hancock if he was acknowledging the previous plans were insufficient. RCN chief executive Dame Donna Kinnair told the BBC no PPE was "more precious a resource than a healthcare worker's life, a nurse's life, a doctor's life".
The health secretary responded that it had been an "enormous challenge", but that 742 million pieces of protective gear had been delivered so far. "I take offence actually that we are saying that healthcare workers are abusing or overusing PPE," she told BBC Breakfast, adding that nurses were still telling her they did not have adequate supply of protective equipment.
"But there's clearly a huge task ahead to keep it flowing and to make sure that those who need it get it," he added. It comes after Mr Hancock warned on Friday that PPE should only where it was most needed.
Mr Hancock also told Friday afternoon's Downing Street briefing that protective equipment - such as masks, gloves and aprons - must be used only where it was most needed. He said 742 million pieces of protective gear had been delivered so far, saying: "There's enough PPE to go around, but only if it's used in line with our guidance. We need everyone to treat PPE like the precious resource that it is."
"There's enough PPE to go around, but only if it's used in line with our guidance. We need everyone to treat PPE like the precious resource that it is," he said. Mr Hancock told the BBC he was not "impugning anyone who works for the NHS" and "they do an amazing job".
"But what I am reiterating, stressing, is the importance to use the right amount of PPE," he added.
Susan Masters, national director of nursing policy and practice at the Royal College of Nursing, said the amount of PPE being delivered would only be impressive "when nursing staff stop contacting me to say what they need to use wasn't available".Susan Masters, national director of nursing policy and practice at the Royal College of Nursing, said the amount of PPE being delivered would only be impressive "when nursing staff stop contacting me to say what they need to use wasn't available".
"The calls are still coming through - people are petrified. They have seen colleagues die already.""The calls are still coming through - people are petrified. They have seen colleagues die already."
Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, told Today that people working in the community, such as midwives, also needed adequate protective equipment, as well as those working in intensive care units.
"The health care workers that are dying aren't the ones that are working in intensive care, they are the ones that are working in other services such as [in] the community," she said, adding that these groups had not been "prioritised" for PPE.
'UK's death toll among highest in Europe''UK's death toll among highest in Europe'
By Philippa Roxby, health reporterBy Philippa Roxby, health reporter
There is no hiding from the fact that the latest announcement of 980 new UK deaths has surpassed Italy and Spain's worst days during this pandemic.There is no hiding from the fact that the latest announcement of 980 new UK deaths has surpassed Italy and Spain's worst days during this pandemic.
Italy's highest daily death toll was 919 according to the latest figures; Spain's 950.Italy's highest daily death toll was 919 according to the latest figures; Spain's 950.
While these two countries are now seeing daily death figures coming down, the UK's have been closing in on 1,000 for several days - and the true death toll is likely to be higher once deaths not yet reported have been added in.While these two countries are now seeing daily death figures coming down, the UK's have been closing in on 1,000 for several days - and the true death toll is likely to be higher once deaths not yet reported have been added in.
Yet the NHS has not been overwhelmed in the way that Italy's hospitals appeared to be, particularly in the north.Yet the NHS has not been overwhelmed in the way that Italy's hospitals appeared to be, particularly in the north.
The message is that the NHS has spare capacity and intensive care beds not yet used, thanks to planning and everyone's efforts to stay at home.The message is that the NHS has spare capacity and intensive care beds not yet used, thanks to planning and everyone's efforts to stay at home.
There was even a plea from health officials that anyone with serious and worrying health problems of any kind should contact the NHS as usual.There was even a plea from health officials that anyone with serious and worrying health problems of any kind should contact the NHS as usual.
The hope is now that the UK's social distancing measures will have the same effect as Italy and Spain's lockdowns, and deaths will start to fall - not just slow down - in the weeks to come.The hope is now that the UK's social distancing measures will have the same effect as Italy and Spain's lockdowns, and deaths will start to fall - not just slow down - in the weeks to come.
At the government's briefing, chief nursing officer Ruth May paid tribute to front-line staff who had died after contracting coronavirus. Mr Hancock was also challenged about a report in Health Service Journal which said he had been failing to observe social distancing rules himself, holding regular video calls in his office surrounded by between 10 and 20 colleagues.
"The NHS is a family and we feel their loss deeply," she said.
Appealing to the public to continue observing the lockdown rules, she urged people to "stay at home, save lives and protect my staff".
Mr Hancock has said the warm Easter weekend will be a "test of the nation's resolve" as he reminded people to stay at home and resist visiting local beaches or parks.
Mr Hancock was challenged about a report in Health Service Journal which said he had been failing to observe social distancing rules himself, holding regular video calls in his office surrounded by between 10 and 20 colleagues.
Senior NHS leaders expressed alarm that the health secretary was providing a bad example, the report said.Senior NHS leaders expressed alarm that the health secretary was providing a bad example, the report said.
Mr Hancock insisted that he followed social distancing rules on the occasions when he had to come into the office. Mr Hancock insisted that he followed social distancing rules on the occasions when he had to go into the office.
In other developments:In other developments:
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