To think PPE should be provided?

[malificent7]

Im a student at a hospital...nearly finished placement. However, most of the staff are running around trying on masks and going to meetings about corona virus and us students have been offered...zilch/ nada. No masks, no ppe.no overalls., no meetings with important informationand there are plenty of suspected cases. Aibu to sack it off and self isolate?

The current national advice is:

Suspected cases (unless performing aerosol generating procedures eg intubation): gloves, apron, surgical mask (possibly eye protection)

Confirmed cases (or performing AGPs on suspected cases): long sleeved surgical gown, gloves, FFP3 mask, disposable eye protection, (and doesn't specify, but should do - hair cover)

I'm not saying that I like the suboptimal PPE for suspected cases, but presume we'll run out of it rapidly otherwise. So if you're nursing proven cases, you should absolutely have full PPE. If it's suspecteds, then pinnies, masks and gloves should all be on the ward anyway. If it's suspected and they're going to do a AGP, don't stay and watch.

Droplet spread, so the handwashing really, really matters.