Report raises concerns over PPE for key staff
A leaked official report from the organisation responsible for delivering health and social care services in Edinburgh has shown the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for key workers is still a “concern”.
The report, from chief officer Judith Proctor of the Lothian Integrated Joint Board which includes Edinburgh City Council and NHS Lothian, sets out concerns over the lack of PPE for frontline staff.
It also states that NHS staff will only be able to be tested for coronavirus using a drivethrough test centre.
Dated April 8, the report states that limited PPE has been prioritised for “essential health and social care services”, and that the supply and distribution of PPE for social care “remains a key risk”
It adds that “concerns remain” with the supply of appropriate PPE for “essential services” in Edinburgh.
Opposition MSPS including the Conservative’s shadow health minister Miles Briggs and Scottish Labour’s health spokesman Monica Lennon said the report is “extremely concerning” and “busts” the Scottish Government’s assurances that there is an adequate supply of PPE, labelling it “complete nonsense”.
The report states: “While significant progress has been made to develop PPE pathways across Edinburgh (and indeed Scotland), the supply chains remains complicated and concerns remain that essential services may not have access to appropriate PPE requirements, as set out in relevant guidance.”
More than 1,000 PPE kits including aprons, gloves, masks and face shields will be handed out to frontline staff in the coming days by the council, the report says.
It adds there are no plans for a ‘walk in’ style test centre for staff despite “substantial staff absences” across the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.
“A constraint of the staff testing protocol is that staff will have to drive through the testing centre,” the report states.
“There are no plans to provide a ‘walk in’ testing facility at this point. Employees testing negative do not currently receive a notification.”
However, the report states there is work ongoing to develop a text message service to notify every staff member tested of their result, positive or negative.
NHS Lothian claimed the text service for test results has been in place for more than a week, despite what is written in the report.
Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon said: “This leaked report busts the Scottish Government’s mantra that PPE is in adequate supply.
“The risks to social care highlighted in this report cannot be brushed aside with spin. The lives of vulnerable people and care staff are on the line.”
The Scottish Conservative’s shadow health minister Miles Briggs added that the issues surrounding the supply of PPE must be addressed “as a matter of urgency”.
He said: “It is extremely concerning that the Scottish Government are still having issues in the distribution of PPE equipment to essential service.”
Edinburgh City Council has issued 26,000 face masks for use by staff, with hand gel/ sanitiser, gloves, masks and aprons also being purchased and supplied by the council.