PPE for medical staff.

[Apirateslifeforme]

What is the true situation?

What is needed?

Is it true many arent face fit tested or taught how to do it themselves?

In the community we have been told gloves and aprons unless suspected Covid. Which puts some of our most vulnerable patients at risk as we move from house to house seeing those on the shielding list.

If we have suspected Covid patients we can use a surgical mask ( not an Ffp3 they're reserved for hospitals confirmed cases). Many of our patients will not go to hospital ( they are not going to benefit from hospital admission and may well be at the end of life). We will still be expected to see in gloves and apron and a surgical mask.... and then move on to other patients homes. Bearing in mind hospital surfaces are cleaned multiple times a day ( and are easily cleanable) how can our uniforms uncovered at the rear not be a risk - no discussion of shoe covers ( we do have a few but it's not policy) eye protection ( on a risk assessment basis only) hair cover etc. We feel very very vulnerable and unsupported particularly by PHE who have come up with these guidelines which most organisations are following ( which incidentally are not the same as the WHO recommended PPE for community).

Only half of our team are face fit tested ( some failed and the others on leave) and there are not enough masks to test now.

Ffp3 are now only being used if the patient has a tracheotomy or similar airway device.
Normal barrier procedures with a surgical mask if not.

You can find the current guidance online.

We still don't have enough.

Fit tests take around 30mins and a mask per person. Most hospitals are short on staff time and masks.

As this started to kick off we had masks for fit testing 100staff and then enough masks for 1 patient for 1 week.

For test solution is now impossible to get hold of.

So it is as bad as thought, maybe we need to reach out to the local councils/privately owned pools for shoe protection- I suppose the shoe protectors are the same?

Many construction workers will have FFP3/FFP2 masks that are unborn, and unlikely to be used in the current climate.
Same with glasses.

Many are taught how to face fit our workers in the construction industry... I for one would be more than happy to demonstrate if required.

HSE have posted about facefitting to protect against COVID19 too.
I'll go find the link.

There must be a way we can bridge the gap.

Also, thank you to anyone working out there, especially right now

www.hse.gov.uk/news/face-mask-ppe-rpe-coronavirus.htm

If you know anyone with a reusable ffp3 then I know somewhere it would be great full received.