Doctors may stop treating coronavirus patients as delivery of 400,000 gowns is delayed and hospitals may run out today
DOCTORS have threatened to stop treating patients as a delivery of 400,000 protective gowns was delayed amid fears hospitals may run out today.
RAF aircraft were due to be flying in 84 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) from an airbase in Turkey over the weekend, with up to 95 medics and carers feared to have died with Covid-19 in the UK.
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The source of the hold-up is not yet known, but it is understood the RAF were ready to transport the equipment, Sky News reported.
The Covid-19 death toll has now reached 16,060 with the latest figures showing a further 596 fatalities.
Ministers have been blasted for promising the delivery, which has failed to materalise so far.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden predicted this morning that the shipment will leave Turkey today.
He said he was hopeful the gowns would still arrive, telling BBC One's Breakfast programme: "We are very hopeful that later today that flight will take off and we will get those gowns.
"We are working very hard to resolve this, there have been challenges at the Turkish end.
"I don't want to start making more and more promises but I understand that that flight will take off this afternoon and they will be delivered."
Another 25 million gowns from China had been procured and the UK would be "getting those shortly as well", he said.
However, Chris Hopson, chief of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said this morning there was 'low confidence' the materials will actually arrive.
"As of an hour ago there is relatively low confidence it will arrive today. If it is going to arrive today is will probably arrive late in the day," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He added: "It would have been better had the Government not made the announcement in the first place" and said staff would need to make their own assessment over whether they felt safe with the PPE currently on offer.
The delay comes as medics were told to treat coronavirus patients in flimsy plastic aprons rather than gowns.
Hospitals are on the brink of running out of the 150,000 gowns they need each day, the NHS confederation, which represents managers, has warned.
'VERY CONCERNING'
The British Medical Association's Dr Chaand Nagpaul described the delay as "very concerning".
“There are limits to the level of risk staff can be expected to expose themselves and their patients to," he said.
“In the most extreme circumstances, if adequate protective measures are not in place, doctors can refuse to put themselves at risk of becoming infected, and inform their management to make alternative arrangements."
Professor Neil Mortensen, from the Royal College of Surgeons, has told colleagues not to risk their health if good PPE could not be used when treating coronavirus patients.
"We are deeply disturbed by this latest change to personal protective equipment guidance, which was issued without consulting medical bodies," he said.
"After weeks of working with PHE and our sister medical royal colleges to get PPE guidance right, this risks confusion and variation in practice across the country."
Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer has backed a call for the UK to observe a minute's silence to remember health and care workers who have died with Covid-19.
The Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, and Unison, want the tribute to be held at 11am on April 28, International Workers’ Memorial Day.
The Department of Health has named 43 NHS victims of Covid-19, but the Nursing Notes website, which is run by nurses, put the figure at 95 yesterday.
UP TO 95 WORKERS DEAD
Public Health England changed its advice on Friday to allow reuse of gowns that is normally single-use only or even wear white lab coats and wash them afterwards.
A source with knowledge of the plan said: "The new guidance will say 'this is what you do if you don't have any gowns'. Wear an apron instead – that will be the new policy for the foreseeable future, though the medical organisations will go mad about that."
At least 60 NHS and healthcare workers have so far died from coronavirus, with many families blaming a lack of PPE.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told yesterday's briefing: "They should be assured we are doing everything we can correct this issue, and to get them the equipment that they need."
When pressed on the issue, Mr Jenrick added: "Supply in some areas, particularly gowns and certain types of masks and aprons, is in short supply at the moment, and that must be an extremely anxious time for people working on the front line, but they should be assured that we are doing everything we can to correct this issue, and to get them the equipment that they need."
He added: "My assessment is that most trusts will be out of stock after the weekend on current consumption."
A "sustainable" level of gowns will not be reached until mid-June, told the Independent reported.
Panicked ministers have drafted in the boss of the 2012 London Olympics to be a PPE czar.
Lord Paul Deighton will take charge of scaling up production and co-ordinating distribution.
Top-end firms including Burberry, Barbour, Louis Vuitton and Philip Treacy have all said their manufacturing equipment could be used in the effort.
Shadow health minister Justin Madders said the number of key workers still without protective equipment was a "scandal".
"Workers have been sounding the alarm for weeks now and the Government has had months to put things in place," he said.
"It is outrageous that supplies keep running so low, protecting those staff who are risking their lives every time they go to work should be an absolute priority.
"Ministers need to make good on their promises, sort out the supply issues and work to make sure no staff member feels unsafe because of a lack of PPE. It is no good making grand promises if they later turn out to be undeliverable."
On Friday Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned the UK was "tight on gowns".
He added: "I would love to be able to wave a magic wand and have PPE fall from the sky in large quantities and be able to answer your question about when shortages will be resolved.
"But given that we have a global situation in which there is less PPE in the world than the world needs, obviously it’s going to be a huge pressure point."
The Royal College of Nursing said half of nursing staff, including those in the most high-risk environments, have felt pressured into working without proper PPE.
They are reusing kit, are short of alcohol rub and wearing eye protection they have bought or made at home.
'GUT-WRENCHING SHORTAGES'
Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "These figures unmask the gut-wrenching shortages nursing staff are dealing with in all health care settings.
"It is little wonder they are in such fear for their own safety and that of their patients.
";This crisis is taking the lives of nursing staff, and their colleagues feel they’ve been left exposed.
"All decision makers involved here need to get an urgent grip on the situation.
"Nursing staff just want to do their jobs – they must be given protection in order to do so."
In response, The Department of Health said: "We are working round the clock given the global shortage of gowns and other PPE to secure the NHS and the social care sector the equipment they need.
"New clinical advice has been issued today to make sure that if there are shortages in one area, frontline staff know what PPE to wear instead to minimise risk.
"This has been reviewed by the Health and Safety Executive, and is in line with WHO and CDC guidance on PPE use in exceptional circumstances.
";There is a 24 hour NHS-run helpline where NHS and social care workers can call to report shortages in supply and it is crucial the relevant guidance for protective equipment is followed closely."
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GOWN SHORTAGE ALTERNATIVES
There are three main options that can be considered as alternatives if gowns are not available:
· Reserve disposable, fluid repellent gown/ coveralls for AGPs and surgical procedures
· Disposable, non-fluid repellent gowns/ coveralls with a disposable plastic apron for high-risk settings and AGPs with forearm washing once gown/ coverall is removed
· Reusable (washable) surgical gowns/ coveralls or similar suitable clothing (e.g. long-sleeved laboratory coat, long-sleeved patient gown, industrial coverall) with a disposable plastic apron for AGPs and high-risk settings with forearm washing once gown/ coverall is removed. These would need to be washed in a hospital laundry and capacity for hospital laundries may need to be increased.
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