New advice on PPE for care workers

New guidance has been issued on what personal protective equipment (PPE) Scottish care workers should wear, following concern from trade unions.

The Scottish Government has agreed with unions and local authorities that the Uk-wide guidance on PPE is “official and fully comprehensive”.

Unions had criticised supplementary guidance issued by Scotland’s chief nursing officer Fiona Mcqueen regarding the use of face masks for care workers looking after patients not suspected of having Covid-19 symptoms.

In a letter to Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) chief executive Sally Loudon yesterday, Ms Mcqueen said: “Where the person is neither suspected to be, nor confirmed as Covid positive, care at home staff carrying out personal care should wear what they have always worn - that is, an apron and gloves; and no mask.”

Officials from Unison and GMB say this letter has now been withdrawn and carers can now wear masks where they feel it is necessary.

They claimed Ms Mcqueen’s guidance put staff at risk - leaving them with less protection than those doing similar jobs elsewhere in the UK.

Johanna Baxter, Unison’s head of local government in Scotland, said: “We are pleased that the Scottish Government have responded positively to the concerns Unison raised, that the four-country guidance issued on Thursday April 2 stands and the letter from Scotland’s chief nursing officer, sent to Cosla on Sunday April 5, has been withdrawn.

“We will always stand up for our members and we will always fight to protect them.

“It is not acceptable that home and social care workers were put through this further anxiety.

“Their jobs are stressful enough.”