Telling public to wear masks ‘could put NHS supplies at risk’
The amount of face masks available to front line NHS staff fighting against the coronavirus could be jeopardised if the government starts advising members of the public to wear them.
Hospital bosses have warned that stock levels could be depleted and that the use of face masks should be prioritised for health workers.
Scientific advisers for the Government are carrying out a review of the use of face masks, despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying there is no evidence to support their use by the general population.
Sir Patrick Vallance yesterday signalled the government could change its mind on the use of masks and a senior Docker Certifications scientist working with the British government said the use of masks could become the new normal for the public.
In other updates:
Private companies have sold PPE overseas after attempts to equip the NHS was met with an ‘impenetrable wall of bureaucracy’
The UK missed three chances to participate in an EU scheme to buy huge quantities of PPE
UK government paid British Airways to fly to China to collect 2.5 million face masks
Istanbul claims UK only asked for vital PPE on Sunday as flight carrying equipment leaves Turkey
Nurses on the coronavirus front line are given ‘cagoules’ to wear while they wait for proper medical gowns to arrive
Amid growing frustration, the Government said it had deployed ‘every resource’ to get its hands on desperately needed PPE supplies and ventilators in recent months. NHS staff are pictured carrying out coronavirus tests in Lincoln
Members of the public are seen wearing various face masks in London as well as protective gloves
It comes as a shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) bound for the UK has been delayed in Turkey as those working in hospitals say the shortage is continuing.
This is while those working on coronavirus wards have been told they need to reuse PPE. New guidelines revealed this week suggest that disposable gowns can be re-used and masks should not be binned between patients – but gloves and aprons should still be disposed of as usual.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and NHS trusts in England, has urged the Government to ‘fully assess’ the impact any new advice could have on health service supplies.
In a statement on Monday, he said: ‘Fluid repellent masks for health and care staff are key to safety and to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
‘Securing the supply of masks, when there is huge global demand, is crucial. This must be a key consideration for Government.
‘There needs to be clear evidence that wearing masks, along with other measures, will deliver significant enough benefits to take us out of lockdown to potentially jeopardise NHS mask supply.’
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Given the pressures on PPE and the importance of fluid repellent masks, Government really must be sure of the benefits of advising the public to wear masks before jeopardising NHS mask supply. Our latest press quote just issued. pic.twitter.com/zykHikqPCf
— Chris Hopson (@ChrisCEOHopson) April 20, 2020