Chinese alumni donate face masks
A donation of 11,000 face masks has been sent from China by former St Andrews students to protect health workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Chinese alumni donated to help ship the personal protective equipment (PPE) to the university, with the masks being distributed to health boards and care workers across Scotland.
When the Covid-19 outbreak struck Wuhan and spread to other Chinese cities, the University of St Andrews alumni network reached out with messages of concern and support.
With lockdown measures starting to ease in parts of China, alumni reciprocated by organising the delivery of emergency PPE, as well as further offers of testing equipment and advice from experts who have been dealing with the disease.
St Andrews graduate Du Peng, the director of international co-operation at HIT Robot Group that sent the masks, said: “As a Chinese [citizen], I have been through the recent nationwide quarantine in China, and as a member of St Andrews alumni, I care about the students and staff at the university.
“St Andrews China Alumni proposed to all alumni around China to help our university, our town, to get through this tough time.”
An initial shipment of 11,000 face masks from the HIT Robot Group arrived at the University Medical School this week.
The university said 4,500 masks have been given to NHS Fife; 4,500 to NHS Tayside; and 1,000 to the Fife Council Health and Social Care Carers’ network.
Another 1,000 masks are being held by the university for research staff and those supporting the coronavirus response. The University of Dundee also announced it is donating supplies of masks, gloves and other protective equipment to Dundee City Council for use by frontline public health, social and community care workers. and potentially life-saving resources.
“Further detail on testing is needed as talks focused on ‘capacity’ rather than delivery.
“The point of frustration is that the commitments given today could have been given to us weeks ago.
“It shouldn’t take a point of crisis to bring people together, especially when the willingness was there from the outset.”
A letter addressed to Nicola Sturgeon from care workers criticising a lack of PPE and testing for those in the sector had gained more than 1,200 signatures.
Speaking at the coronavirus briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said ministers, unions and Cosla would take part in a call to discuss the issue of PPE for care workers.
The First Minister said she was “incredibly grateful” to Scotland’s care workers and added: “If issues and concerns are raised with us, we will seek to address these issues fully and quickly.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The safety of our health and social care workers is paramount.
“The Scottish Government, Cosla and Trades Unions had a productive meeting this evening to discuss PPE.
“The guidance published on 2 April and agreed by the four nations remains in place and all health and social care staff will continue to have access to appropriate PPE where they need it.
“The Scottish Government will agree a joint statement with Cosla and Trades Unions to underline that social care staff can wear protective masks where they feel appropriate in line with their professional judgement.”
Tory health spokesperson Miles Briggs said: “There have been significant concerns expressed by home carers and community nurses regarding guidance that they should not wear face mask.
“Clearly many home carers and nurses had real concerns that they were being opening themselves up to Covid-19 infection and putting the people they are caring for at risk.
“I have raised these concerns with SNP ministers and am pleased they have been taken onboard and new advice issued.
“It has not been helpful that mixed messaging has been sent out and it’s welcome that Jeane Freeman has apologised to home care workers and nurses and guaranteed they will now receive the appropriate personal protection equipment.”
Meanwhile, more than 100 medics have signed a letter to the Scottish Government to express concerns over PPE.
The letter is reported to claim frontline staff are risking their lives dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak because they do not have suitable aprons, masks and eyewear, according to BBC Scotland.
The broadcaster reports the medical professionals state they have “grave concerns about the adequacy of what has been given”.
Dr Shahzad Hanif, a GP, co-ordinated the open letter.