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NHS frontline staff may refuse to work over lack of PPE, says union NHS frontline staff may walk out over lack of PPE, say unions
(about 1 hour later)
Unison warning comes after revelation workers told to reuse disposable equipment Warning from Unison and Unite comes after workers told to reuse disposable equipment
NHS frontline staff may refuse to work if there is not enough personal protective equipment to ensure their safety, the UK’s biggest union has said. NHS staff may refuse to work if there is not enough personal protective equipment to ensure their safety, unions have warned.
The warning came in response to new guidance from Public Health England (PHE), revealed by the Guardian on Friday, which instructs healthcare workers to reuse disposable PPE. The guidelines also recommended that medics wear aprons if they are unable to access full-length gowns, and there are concerns that some PPE supplies are close to running out. The warnings came in response to new guidance from Public Health England (PHE), revealed by the Guardian on Friday, which instructs healthcare workers to reuse disposable PPE. The guidelines also recommended that medics wear aprons if they are unable to access full-length gowns, and there are concerns that some PPE supplies are close to running out.
Sara Gorton, the head of health at Unison, said: “If gowns run out, staff in high-risk areas may well decide that it’s no longer safe for them to work.Sara Gorton, the head of health at Unison, said: “If gowns run out, staff in high-risk areas may well decide that it’s no longer safe for them to work.
“No part of the NHS should use this move as an excuse to ration supplies of gowns when they still have stocks. That would cause a damaging breakdown of trust at a time when staff are working under intense pressure.”“No part of the NHS should use this move as an excuse to ration supplies of gowns when they still have stocks. That would cause a damaging breakdown of trust at a time when staff are working under intense pressure.”
Unite’s assistant general secretary, Gail Cartmail, also said the union had advised healthcare staff to refuse to work if they felt they were not being protected from the virus.
“Unite has already advised its 100,000 members that reluctantly NHS and social care staff could legitimately and lawfully decline to put themselves in further danger and risk of injury at work,” she said. “The continued lack of PPE is a national scandal and the government’s litany of broken promises over the last month is shameful.”
Cartmail said the health secretary, Matt Hancock, may have to consider his position if he was not able to secure the necessary PPE. She said the situation could not continue, and that health professionals would be quite right to decline to put themselves in danger.
“We are not just talking about NHS staff in hospitals, but those working in the community, such as health visitors and community nurses, and those employed in social care settings, such as care homes,” she said.
The new guidelines mark a U-turn on original guidance that full-length waterproof surgical gowns should be worn during high-risk procedures.The new guidelines mark a U-turn on original guidance that full-length waterproof surgical gowns should be worn during high-risk procedures.
More than 50 frontline healthcare workers have died of coronavirus, as concerns mount that they are not being adequately protected while working with Covid-19 patients.More than 50 frontline healthcare workers have died of coronavirus, as concerns mount that they are not being adequately protected while working with Covid-19 patients.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, admitted to MPs on the Commons health and social care select committee on Friday that the NHS was “tight on gowns”, describing it as a “pressure point”. Hancock, admitted to MPs on the Commons health and social care select committee on Friday that the NHS was “tight on gowns”, describing it as a “pressure point”.
About 55,000 gowns were due to be delivered on Friday, but the NHS is using about 150,000 a day.About 55,000 gowns were due to be delivered on Friday, but the NHS is using about 150,000 a day.
Rumours that PPE may have to be reused began circulating as early as Wednesday, when a leaked PHE document revealed that masks and gowns may need to be cleaned and reused when supplies ran low.Rumours that PPE may have to be reused began circulating as early as Wednesday, when a leaked PHE document revealed that masks and gowns may need to be cleaned and reused when supplies ran low.
The document said there was a “reduced ability to resupply”, but described the measures as “last-resort alternatives”.The document said there was a “reduced ability to resupply”, but described the measures as “last-resort alternatives”.