Protective equipment for UK GPs: coronavirus

[GPwife2411]

Hi

I've name changed for this to avoid anything identifiable.

My partner is a GP and owns the practice. He has been phoning his care commissioning group (CCG) on and off for a couple of weeks to ask for basic protective equipment to wear and give to other staff in the event of a coronavirus outbreak / patient presenting with concerning symptoms. This is looking pretty likely in the near future.

Yesterday the CCG basically admitted that they didn't have any for local practices and are not sure when, if ever, they would.

DH basically came home resigned to the fact that he was going to catch it and probably encounter massive exposure once more cases appear here.

AIBU to think that this is a truly shit way to treat medical staff?

Not only does this scare me in terms of DP passing it to me and the children, it also scares me even more in terms of DP passing it to vulnerable patients. He's not allowed to close the surgery if he feels it's unsafe otherwise he would be in breach of contract.

111 are also still merrily scheduling GP appointments for people with suspicious symptoms, and DP's and other doctors' efforts to override this (so people get a phonecall first to check their travel history etc before they arrive in the waiting room) have been rebuffed.

In summary, AIBU to think this is all just pretty shit? Or am I overreacting through my concern for DP?

Yes it is not good. I suppose the CCG can't do anything if they can't get hold of protective gear but I think that something needs to be done to encourage greater manufacture of masks etc. looking at Amazon there is a lot of profiteering going on at the moment and masks seem incredibly expensive with no guarantee that they will work.I would quite like to have a supply as I am immunosuppressed but I feel it would be selfish when there isn't enough for medical staff.

@Woodchuck99 sorry to hear that you are immunosuppressed. Our daughter is too.

I think if you can afford a reusable mask (something like the GVS ones on Amazon or similar) surely no-one would begrudge you? Are you able to self-isolate to protect yourself if needed?

On the radio this morning they were saying how well trained and prepared our medical professionals and other NHS staff were.

@bellinisurge - yep, always makes me laugh!

I have just purchased anti-bacterial hand sanitiser and gloves.
I am going on long haul flight and stop at Singapore.

Didn't cost much at all.

As long as you wash your hands thoroughly and don't touch your face is what they are telling us!

...and don’t breathe in when anyone coughs or sneezes

Exactly @Ghostontoast - it's also transmissible via the membranes of the eyes as well.

Plus arguably more protective precautions are needed in healthcare settings vs a flight abroad as the likelihood of encountering symptomatic individually is far nicer.

I suppose it's comforting to know that 6 out of 8 people believe that my DP deserves equipment that will let him do his job safely. Unless those saying unreasonable just think IABU for being concerned about this at all!

Symptomatic individuals is far greater! Not nicer.

Yanbu at all

I think if you can afford a reusable mask (something like the GVS ones on Amazon or similar) surely no-one would begrudge you? Are you able to self-isolate to protect yourself if needed?

Good idea. I will order one.

There is no evidence that masks do any good in preventing the spread. There is some idea that they act as a barrier and stop people touching their face / mouth but otherwise of little use.

Why is it that as soon as you are told it's not good to touch your face, you get an overwhelming urge to scratch your nose or rub your eye??

The WHO recommend masks for use by medical staff - FFP3 or N95 standard plus goggles and protective suits.

For the general public, it's less clear but the P3 masks available for work in dusty environments probably do help to some extent as the particles are something like 0.8 microns across - as long as they are fitted appropriately. Any reduction in viral load exposure is better than none.

Surgical masks are the ones that are very much less effective than the masks mentioned above for myriad reasons. They might still be better than nothing though - little use isn't no use.

It is a terrible situation that I wish I could say was unbelievable but unfortunately under this government it is not surprising that medical staff are not being protected.

I don't know why more people aren't questioning the official "the UK is well prepared line" , maybe fear for some needing to believe it, maybe complacency for others (the ones likely to end up not bother doing what they should to avoid spreading it) and so many comments about "only the old and sick die" as if that makes it fine.

I hope people at least learn from this what is truly important but I don't hold out much hope.

Any suggestions op how ordinary members of public can do anything to help get gps equipment?

I think lots of us that do think things through and care a lot are feeling very worried and very helpless :(

Are you saying 111 havent already checked their travel history and concluded they lie outside of the current criteria in order that they are then referring to a gp rather than transporting appropriately to a designated pod?

Corona Virus Facts;

• the bacteria is only able to live on a surface for 15 minutes
• hand washing/hand gel is the most effective form of prevention
• masks do bugger all, only a full mouth/nose respirator would prevent you breathing in the germs
• cities are on ‘lock down’ to prevent the spread, this is because it’s an unknown risk
• 80% of people who catch it will feel unwell then be fine
• 15-20% of people will be more seriously ill, particularly the elderly

It’s ‘dangerous’ because it’s new and has a high infection rate and long incubation period. The death rate for the flu is 0.1%, current death rate for corona virus is around 1.5-2%. The most at-risk are those with immune deficiency conditions or respiratory conditions, as it’s dangerous when it turns into pneumonia.

It’s easier to panic and listen to mass hysteria than wash hands and practice basic hygiene.

Calm down all

*Corona Virus Facts;

• the bacteria is only able to live on a surface for 15 minutes*

Errr, well it's not bacteria for a start. I believe the virus is thought to be able to survive days rather than minutes on surfaces. Not sure where you got your 'facts' from

I think it's appalling that frontline health workers aren't being afforded protection.

We’ve all been issued with anti bac gel at work. Shame it’s a virus and then won’t be effective.

It's not a bacterial infection. Please get the basics right.

@ememem84 alcohol hand gels are effective against Covid if the alcohol level is at least 60%.

I wonder if they just don't have any and can't get any?

I was at a builders merchants over a week ago, they had a sign in the window saying that due to unprecedented global demand, mask sales are strictly limited.

Stylishmummy - the virus appears to live on surfaces for various periods of time depending on the surrounding environment. In many cases this will be some days. Here's a relevant paper:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670120300463

I don't particularly consider healthcare workers wanting fit-tested protective equipment to be an overreaction in the current set of circumstances.

I think in some areas GP surgeries HAVE been supplied, by the way, so it's not a blanket thing. As with most things it will vary by area and commissioning groups will have been more / less prepared and organised in getting things together and distributed to surgeries.

@3littlemonkeys82 In some instances it seems to be going wrong. An example I was informed of yesterday is that 111 were rather slow in changing the guidance around Italy meaning that several people with flu-like symptoms and recent travel in Northern Italy had been allocated in-surgery appointments yesterday and others had been directed to community pharmacies.

Is it a nhs practice or a contractor/partnership?

I.e is he directly employed by the NHS or as contractor?