DOCTORS FEAR WE’LL RUN OUT OF OXYGEN

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FIVE hundred doctors have warned oxygen supplies for coronavirus patients are falling worryingly low.

Frontline medics fear the worst scenario is that hospitals run dry.

The alert came as UK deaths rose 888 to 15,538 yesterday.

HUGE numbers of hospitals are running low on oxygen as crippling shortages hamper the war against coronavirus.

A worrying 502 doctors responding to a British Medical Association survey say they fear their oxygen supply could dry up.

In another alarming development, a nurse told how staff were reusing syringe sets due to shortages – although an NHS spokesman denied this was happening.

It came as another 888 victims died, taking deaths in UK hospitals to 15,538.

The Sunday Mirror spoke to frontline staff across the country to lay bare the horrifying lack of key supplies. We also found:

■ Hundreds of doctors said they are running out of sedatives, painkillers and anaesthetics.

■ Equipment like tracheostomy tubes – vital for some patients on ventilators – is running low in at least one major hospital.

■ Medics may not have the capacity to treat all coronavirus patients with renal failure, a side-effect, due to lack of equipment.

■ Staff in busy London hospitals fear they don’t have enough PPE to last the weekend.

Our findings reveal oxygen shortages are far more widespread than thought. Dr Rob Harwood, BMA Consultants Committee chair, said: “Doctors and other healthcare workers are going above and beyond to provide the best possible care for a growing number of patients. However, supplies of medicines and essential resources simply aren’t available on the front line on a regular basis, meaning doctors aren’t able to provide treatment they ideally want for patients.

WORRIED

“We just want to feel comfortable and have a cupboard stocked full of the stuff we need. God knows we need PPE. For all of us who work in healthcare, we don’t want people mourning our deaths, we want the system to prevent our deaths.”

A terrified nurse at a busy London hospital said: “I’m genuinely worried there won’t be any PPE left when I turn up for my shift today.” Another nurse in the capital said staff were asked to violate guidelines by using the same syringe on patients multiple times.

The nurse said: “Health and safety wise we are told never to recap a needle – to put the lid back on after using it.

“You are taught to always immediately throw it away so you don’t accidentally prick yourself or someone else with it. Now, because we’re running out, we are expected to use one needle for one patient the whole day – breaking health and safety rules.

“There could be residuals of a drug left in