One in six doctors unable to access PPE, warn physicians

AROUND one in six doctors say they have been unable to access personal protective equipment (PPE) in the past fortnight, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has warned.

A survey of the 25,000 RCP members found that almost half (48 per cent) of doctors working during a pandemic report feeling concerned or very concerned for their health.

Some 16.5 per cent of respondents said they had found themselves in a situation over the last two weeks in which they have been unable to access the PPE recommended by Public Health England.

One third also said they had not been properly trained to use PPE, even though NHS guidance says it is essential before treating patients. Black and minority ethnic doctors, who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus, feel even more concerned about their health, with 76 per cent saying they feared for their safety.

Prof Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, said: “It is no wonder that clinicians are worried for themselves and their families, when the very things that would keep them safe – PPE and testing – are still hard to access for so many of them. We need to get those who have symptoms back to work as soon as possible so they need to be tested in good time. Waiting three to four days for test results at a time like this is simply unacceptable.

“Given that so many staff have had to take time off work during the pandemic, we welcome plans to roll out antibody tests to them as soon as possible so that we can understand whether they have or haven’t had the virus. Employers must do more to help and reassure staff – giving them the confidence to check their own PPE should be the bare minimum.

“Clinicians are working incredibly hard in the most extraordinary circumstances the NHS has ever faced, but without the right safety measures in place they’re still living in fear for their own health and the health of their families. Confidence in the system they work in is low and more must be done to regain that trust.”

The RCP said it had found there were still problems for key workers and their families to get coronavirus tests. One in 20 was unable to access testing for themselves, while 17.5 per cent said they could not get a test for members of their household who have symptoms, and 4 per cent said they were still struggling to access testing for their patients.