They can shove their hand clapping and pot banging Thursdays up their arses for me, now.

[TheLadyAnneNeville]

I’m disgusted with Mr Hancock and our Govt.’s stance on there being no “likely” direct link to COVID19 deaths and lack of PPE.

They’re clearly shitting themselves at the prospect of having NOT shifted themselves soon and reacted by trying to get the equipment necessary to protect those in the frontline. As a retired nurse I’m f***g furious on my colleagues behalf.

Typical Tory “run away!” reaction.

AIBU to think that when this is over, political heads should roll? That under no circumstances should the “heroes” of this debacle, end up sitting in the Lords?

If they said “we know there isn’t enough like the rest of the world and we’re trying to change that” that’s far better and honest than “we have enough and it’s the staffs fault for using too much”. Fuck off.

Also our local police force only ordered PPE 14 days ago. 14 fucking days.

Completely agree, OP. I appreciate there's a worldwide shortage of PPE. However, the government haven't said that, they've just lied and covered up, as usual.

They haven't called for anyone that can produce PPE to so, people have done that off their own backs. Hospitals, Drs and nurses have had to appeal to the public, because the government are pretending there isn't a problem.

I hope the fuckers start investing heavily in public services after this.

@TheLadyAnneNeville

Completely agree with you. I am fortunate in not working with loads of covid positive patients (on a dialysis unit) but some of our patients have already died from this.

The emails we get from the Trust each day are so much whitewash.

A care home where one of our possible Covid patients is living has said 'they are not allowed to order tests' - despite one resident showing all the symptoms. You can bet they don't have PPE either.

It's no bloody wonder the death rate is nearly 1000 per day. We should be testing every last man and their dog, as well as supplying proper PPE to all working with covid positive (or query positive) patients.

If 9 bus drivers are dead from this - how many NHS workers and carers in the community will get this? I dread to think.

The health care workers just get on with their jobs, I think they’re very strong people who help each other out when they can. I am very worried as my husband has now volunteered to help turning Covid 19 patients in ICU . That’s has ranked my worry up but he told me it’s not my decision. Where would we be without them ? Sort of makes me sick to think they may run out of PPE. How and when will this finish ??

@Minty2020. Clearly, a good man. They are much needed and appreciated and Matt Hancock et al are totally reliant on their being so. There’s nothing more I can say except when it does end, I sincerely hope that this Govt. doesn’t continue to try to pass the PPE buck. That they stand up and say “We were wrong. We are not infallible but we had time to do better in terms of procurement and preparation and sending out the right message and we chose not to”.

I live in a very safe Tory seat and I will not go and stand alongside a community that knowingly voted to destroy our NHS while they pretend to give a shit about it.

The fuckers come out every Thursday and clap and cheer, then congratulate themselves on our village Facebook page for a wonderful effort. I feel sick every week.

I did my bit to support the NHS at the ballot box and it was a damned sight more meaningful then, when we weren't all bloody petrified and desperate to know those people would be there to save us from the grim reaper who is just around the corner.

If I worked for the NHS, I would tell everyone who voted Tory to stick their applause up their arse, never mind the bastard politicians who are using it for political gain.

Zacjosh

I was in tears last night after reading your post

I didn't know what to say to you. Saying thank you is cheap.

I woke up this morning and thought I might make an attempt at writing something. It won't make everything better, it won't keep you safe (how I wish i could do that) but it might just help you to feel that somone is noticing what way the wind is blowing.

first, a little poem

I was feeling quite bitter and angry when I wrote this

I would be happy to alter it or to write more poems on any subjectrelevant to the current situation if anyone would like me to

here goes

Instead of all the happy clapping
Give us proper PPE that’s overlapping
Not inadequate shields leaving a gap
Where a patient below us can hack up crap
Into our faces, naked and raw, sore
Unprotected and taking in more and more
Viral load keeps on coming but you claim it’s “uncertain”
Bet you don’t dare step inside the "dirty ward" curtain
Not without protection that you keep on saying
Is coming any day, what kind of game are you playing?
This is costing the lives of our colleagues and friends
When this is all over, you can never make amends
For all the lost mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters
Our NHS colleagues with bruises and blisters
Dehydrated because they didn’t dare quench their thirst
Removing their masks would make the situation worse
Working cross-legged cos they can’t even piss
What a scandal, an obscenity, a horror is this?
Just look at our colleagues over in Italy
They got proper PPE anybody can see
Don’t you dare piss on my head and say “Oh look! It’s raining!”
The happy clapping crap it’s just a trap, brainwashing, explaining
That you value us, care for us, none of us really buy it
Pritt’s sorry old “apology" is it meant to keep us quiet?
Telling us PPE is a thing we should ration?
Where’s your respect? Your humanity? Where’s your compassion?
I am dismayed to say that our awful position
Is like troops sent to fight without proper munition
We are grieving for our colleagues, we are scared and bereft
Sort out this mess while there’s still some of us left

Also I worked on a cover of Respect Yourself by the wonderful; Staple Singers

original song here

My lyrics (again I can add more, amend just say the word)

If you disrespect the NHS who are looking after you
How in the world do you think the NHS is gonna respect you?
If you don't give a damn about the NHS staff throughout the land
Just give us PPE and let us carry on and do our thing
Now that Pretti Patel she says “I’m sorry if you feel that way"
Well that’s the sorriest “apology” that anybody ever did say

Respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS
If you don't respect the NHS
Ain't nobody else is gonna save your life, na na na na
Respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS

If you're walking 'round think'n that the NHS is always gonna be here
We’re running low on medication and we don’t have proper PPE gear
Stop giving us The Clap cos it won't stop the viral air pollution
Give up proper PPE, yeah, that'll help the solution
Oh, you saying that it’s coming and it’s gonna be here any day
We don’t need the happy clapping we need PPE right away
Respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS
If you don't respect the NHS
Ain't nobody else is gonna save your life, na na na na

Respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS
Respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS, respect the NHS
Respect the NHS, yeah yeah, respect the NHS, respect the NHS yeah, respect the NHS
You oughta you oughta respect the NHS yeah, respect the NHS

If I had to devise a suitably catchy sound bite it would be

“We don’t want The Clap we want PPE”

I’m with you OP. I’ve felt since the first week that the clapping was going to turn into a propaganda exercise and I don’t think I’ve been proved wrong yet. It gets worse every week.

I really don’t think Matt Hancock saying staff overusing PPE was any different to Trump accusing HCPs of stealing PPE. Now all the shock and big gestures have worn off, we’re starting to see the true colours come to the fore as they can’t sustain the ‘look what a caring government we are’ act.

YANBU, there is a global shortage of PPE now, but the government didn't plan properly for a pandemic after a 2016 report asked them to and they should have had more in stock before all this happened. They wanted to save money. It's not unreasonable for healthcare staff to expect appropriate PPE.

Staff often don't use PPE correctly. Firefighters, police, nurses. It happens.

The clapping done in various European countries. It started in France and wasn't Mr Gove's idea. In Belgium they do it every night, not just on Thursdays.

My sister is a District nurse, they only received PPE last week. They have been told only use it when patient is symptomatic but they don't know until they turn up at the door. Her husband is a nurse in the hospital nursing the dying who are being denied treatment or end of life drugs. He at least does has PPE. They have two young children and are terrified of bringing the virus home. The clapping makes me angry as it's clearly a smoke screen. 21 NHS staff have died. The government have let everyone of them down.

Staff often don't use PPE correctly. Firefighters, police, nurses. It happens.

Well that's a problem solved then. Can't misuse what you don't have.

Staff often don't use PPE correctly. Firefighters, police, nurses. It happens. Do you have any statistics on that, is it from your observation?

forsorrow I make it and train people to use it!

😡😡😡😡😡😡 THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE CLAPPING.

It's all virtue-signalling anyway, OP. I don't blame you for feeling this way. YANBU.

Human beings do things differently under stress, so although we try to take that into consideration when designing things, sometimes they do not use it correctly. It's perfectly OK to mention it.

It is true we don't always know how to put it on and take it off properly, there is an art to not contaminating yourself. It is not the way we are used to removing gowns and gloves. However we are only now being taught how to don and doff correctly. We taught ourselves from YouTube etc.

@Tonyaster...why? Why are users not being trained/monitored to use it properly? Why isn’t it part of induction/ongoing training for all?

@hoodathunkit... Love the revised MAVIS Staples song.

@Frogshoe...I was a community nurse for ten years of my nhs career. You never know what you’re getting fully, til you step through the door, in terms of a patient. But my question to current policy makers then, is what about those who are carriers/asymptotic? Disaster waiting to happen in terms of spread in the community... Oh wait, the disaster is happening it’s just that, at present, it’s not counted in the official numbers.

Tonyaster...why? Why are users not being trained/monitored to use it properly? Why isn’t it part of induction/ongoing training for all? they are! I do NOT make PPE for the NHS so no idea what they do, but other organisations train - I train people myself!

Sky news were talking about the RCN issuing us guidelines regarding not providing care without proper PPE. All be it, we need to have run through 7 potential course of action before we refuse whilst bearing in mind we could be prosecuted for ? Corporate manslaughter but the RCN legal dept says they would help us.

I have searched the RCN and cannot find this guide.

Also note how the resus council for the UK says not to start CPR until wearing full PPE so FFP3, gown and double gloves (defib is ok with a surgical mask) BUT public health England say not necessary! So the same people (PHE) who also downgraded the PPE from what WHO recommend now tell us that resus council advice should not be followed. I do not trust PHE. If they had be upfront initially about lack of PPE it would have been better. We are intelligent professionals.

We cannot win I go to work to help people and save lives but, feel like I have to choose between my family and a patient. We could be sacked/dead or sued if we go against one of the many bodies who offer conflicting advice.

It's perfectly OK to mention it.

Might be ok, but how is it relevant?

The lack of PPE is not down to user misuse is it?
The staff that have none or bare minimum, won't get infected because the gloves were put on/taken off wrong. Or at least it won't be the primary cause of infection.