This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52351029

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 14 Version 15
Coronavirus: 'Low confidence' over arrival of PPE from Turkey Coronavirus: RAF plane en route to Turkey PPE amid row over PPE
(about 2 hours later)
There is "relatively low confidence" a delayed delivery of 400,000 protective gowns will arrive on Monday, a senior NHS figure has said. An RAF aircraft has departed the UK for Turkey to pick up a delayed delivery of protective kit amid a row over a shortage in the NHS.
The gowns, to protect those treating coronavirus patients, had been expected to arrive from Turkey on Sunday. The plane left at around 17:00 BST on Monday to collect 400,000 gowns.
It comes as another 449 deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in UK hospitals, taking the total number to 16,509. Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the daily No 10 briefing the government was working "around the clock" to address the lack of protective gear.
That is the lowest daily figure announced since 6 April. It does not include deaths in care homes. It comes as another 449 coronavirus deaths were recorded in UK hospitals, taking the total number to 16,509.
Meanwhile, the UK may hold a minute's silence next week to pay tribute to NHS workers who have died with the virus. But the number of new confirmed infections are "flattening out", the UK's deputy chief scientific adviser, Prof Dame Angela Maclean, told the briefing.
The row over a shortage of protective gear for the NHS has intensified over the last few days. The row over a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the NHS has intensified over the last few days.
An RAF aircraft left the UK at around 17:00 BST on Monday to pick up the delayed consigned and is expected to arrive in Istanbul later to be loaded. Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Sunak said the issue was "uppermost" in people's minds and the government would "pursue every possible option" to secure more PPE.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, told the BBC there was "no doubt" some hospital trusts already had shortages of the gowns. He said ministers were trying to resolve problems around the consignment, expected to arrive from Turkey on Sunday, but hit by "unexpected" delays.
Mr Hopson, whose organisation represents healthcare trusts across England, said if the delayed consignment from Turkey did arrive on Monday it would "probably arrive very late on in the day". However, he said there were regular shipments expected from other sources, and cited a delivery of 140,000 gowns from Myanmar.
"It just illustrates that we need to be careful about focusing on individual consignments," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Sunak said: "We're improving our sourcing internationally and domestically to make sure we can get the PPE we need in what is a very challenging international context.
"Bitter experience over the last few weeks has shown until a consignment of gowns has actually landed - that the boxes have been checked and the equipment's been tested - the NHS simply can't count on the gowns being available at the front line." "But people on the front line can rest assured that we're doing absolutely everything we can and straining everything we can to get the equipment they need."
Mr Hopson gave the example of an expected consignment of 200,000 gowns from China which actually only contained 20,000 gowns when it arrived last week. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the first of three expected RAF transport aircraft departed from Brize Norton for Turkey on Monday.
Mr Hopson added that while the 400,000 gowns from Turkey would be welcome, NHS staff were getting through approximately 150,000 gowns a day. There was "no doubt" some hospital trusts were already experiencing shortages of the gowns, said Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers - which represents healthcare trusts across England.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said he was "hopeful" the Turkish flight would leave on Monday. He said that while the 400,000 gowns from Turkey would be welcome, NHS staff were getting through approximately 150,000 gowns a day.
He said the government was "working very hard" to resolve the issue but added there had been "challenges at the Turkish end". Mr Hopson also said too much focus should not be placed on individual consignments.
Another 25 million gowns from China had also been procured and the UK would be "getting those shortly as well", he added. He gave the example of an expected consignment of 200,000 gowns from China, which turned out to be 20,000 gowns when it arrived last week.
The delay to the consignment is a real worry, both in the short and long-term.
It is clear the pandemic stocks we have been largely relying on to date are running out, at least in terms of gowns and visors.
It has left us depending on international supply - certainly for gowns - as we do not seem to be able to manufacture them ourselves.
Given the international demand for them, this threatens to be an on-going issue that could cause problems for months to come.
Staff are understandably worried - they are putting their lives at risk.
Ministers and their officials are clearly working hard to do what they can.
But in the future, serious questions will need to be asked about why this situation has arisen in the first place.
Downing Street said the government had now delivered a billion pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline staff.Downing Street said the government had now delivered a billion pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline staff.
The prime minister's spokesman said delivery of gowns in particular was "pressured at the moment" and there was a "global supply problem". Speaking at the government briefing, Public Health England's medical director Prof Yvonne Doyle said a lack of PPE was "a concern".
He said the government was working to ensure the shipment is "delivered as soon as it is ready" but it was not only reliant on Turkey and had "plenty more orders lined up and expected". However, she denied that PPE guidance had been downgraded based on availability of equipment rather than safety standards,
The NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across healthcare, said delays on the shipment from Turkey make "a difficult situation worse".
Its chief executive Niall Dickson said "it would have been better had the government not made the announcement in the first place" regarding the order.
Public Health England changed its advice on Friday to allow the NHS to re-use gowns if stock was running low, saying "some compromise" was needed "in times of extreme shortages".Public Health England changed its advice on Friday to allow the NHS to re-use gowns if stock was running low, saying "some compromise" was needed "in times of extreme shortages".
Mr Hopson said some trusts had taken to washing fluid-repellent gowns at 60C and had found, when washed a maximum three times, they remained resistant. Prof Doyle said: "The guidance remains exactly the same. And that is a very precautionary set of advice - it's quite the opposite to putting people at risk because there aren't enough supplies.
"It's trying to ensure that people are well secured and safe when there may not be enough supplies, and it also stresses how important it is not to take risks."
Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland currently had "adequate stocks" of all the main items of PPE but gowns were one of the items "under most pressure".Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland currently had "adequate stocks" of all the main items of PPE but gowns were one of the items "under most pressure".
Alice Ushumba, who runs a healthcare service in Hampshire providing care to people in their own homes, said PPE is the "biggest challenge" her organisation faces. The owner of a healthcare service in Hampshire providing care to people in their own homes, said PPE is the "biggest challenge" her organisation faces.
She said she is struggling to get hold of enough masks and some staff had resigned because they didn't feel safe with the protective equipment available. Alice Ushumba said she was struggling to get hold of enough masks, and that some staff had resigned because they didn't feel safe with the protective equipment available.
"We're going into people's houses who might have Covid but we don't have anything to protect ourselves except perhaps a little plastic apron and gloves," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One."We're going into people's houses who might have Covid but we don't have anything to protect ourselves except perhaps a little plastic apron and gloves," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One.
Gill Long, who runs a bespoke tailor in Hull, said she contacted the government several weeks ago to see if she could help make PPE for the NHS but heard nothing back. The latest UK death total of 449 was the lowest daily figure announced since 6 April. The new figures also showed that the number of new infections - 4,676, was the lowest for four days.
However, after approaching two local MPs she was put in contact with a nearby hospital and is hoping to make up to 250 gowns a day for them. Prof Maclean told the daily briefing that infections in the UK were "flattening out", and that the number of patients in hospitals in London had fallen for seven consecutive days. She added she hoped the fall would be "replicated" across the UK.
"It's just a shame we were offering weeks ago - it could have been done then," she told the same programme. The number of new deaths announced - 449 - is the lowest for two weeks.
Last week the figures were hovering between 700 and 900, before dropping below 600 on Sunday.
That is, of course, good news. Although the figures for the past two days should be treated with caution.
They cover the weekend and we know reporting and recording delays can mean figures drop before rising again.
But the falls are big enough to suggest we may soon start seeing the number of new deaths coming down.
The numbers in hospital with coronavirus have already started dropping gradually so the signs are there that we are beginning to turn the corner.
The BBC has identified 70 healthcare workers who have died with coronavirus since the start of the outbreak.The BBC has identified 70 healthcare workers who have died with coronavirus since the start of the outbreak.
Those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds represented 42 out of 60 deaths, where it was possible to establish ethnicity.Those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds represented 42 out of 60 deaths, where it was possible to establish ethnicity.
Meanwhile, Prince Charles opened a 2,000-bed field hospital at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. The site - called Dragon's Heart Hospital - becomes Wales' biggest hospital.Meanwhile, Prince Charles opened a 2,000-bed field hospital at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. The site - called Dragon's Heart Hospital - becomes Wales' biggest hospital.
Charles' father, the Duke of Edinburgh, has made a rare public statement, praising those helping to tackle the pandemic and keeping essential services running. And Charles' father, the Duke of Edinburgh, has made a rare public statement, praising those helping to tackle the pandemic and keeping essential services running.
Prince Philip, 98, who retired from public duties in 2017, said he wanted to recognise the "vital and urgent" medical and scientific work taking place.
In his message, published online, the duke said: "On behalf of those of us who remain safe and at home, I also wanted to thank all key workers who ensure the infrastructure of our life continues."
In other developments:In other developments: