Confused about PPE guidelines. They are putting staff at risk.

[Coffeeaddict201]

I work in a hospital in the north and our ward cares for COVID positive patients. Before these patients were arriving on the wards the hospital had a dedicated floor to isolate the coronavirus patients on. This was when we first received our PPE training. It was good, literally every part of your body was covered and we were receiving mask fit testing. Everything has changed in the last few weeks. We have had the covid patients on the ward, firstly some of the staff are unaware that this particular patient has got the virus, so they are caring for the patient with no mask or anything. Then we are also being given mixed messages as management are saying that we only need to wear a flimsy surgical mask while caring for the patients with the virus - not an n95 respiratory mask. Items belonging to the isolated patient are being left lying out in the corridor outside of the room... covered in coronavirus potentially. Myself and other members of staff have been inside the rooms with the patients with no mask on because we didn’t realise they were positive until the swab results came back. We didn’t even realise the patients were suspected to have the virus as no one told us. We were also originally told that only the nurse/doctor and one buddy could go into the room but all staff have been going inside... I feel worried. We are scared to ask managers as they get angry with their response. They just say things are changing every day. They have n95 masks but we are not allowed them on the ward, they are hidden away. If we all catch it soon, there will be no staff left as we will all be in isolation on sick leave, then the ward will have to close. I don’t think they understand this. Certain members of staff who are sourced from outside and don’t attend the handover are not being informed of which patients have got coronavirus! Sometimes there is no sign on the door to warn anyone. It’s only later on through gossip that we hear about who is positive or negative. We do ask but we get mixed messages. I really don’t want to go back, I know 100% I’m going to pass this virus to my family soon. The funny thing is the managers are tucked away nicely inside their offices... you knock on the door and they just ignore it, even if we have questions they are no where to be found to answer them. They only come out even they want something from you and then when you try to speak to them they rush off saying they are busy...

I’m sad to say I’m not surprised. We all know the risks right now and we all know the limitations but it makes it so much worse to have management act like there’s no problem and hide things.

You’re being way too generous thinking they’re just ignorant. I don’t suppose you’ve a union rep still in action?

No I don’t have a rep. The thing is why are some hospitals and countries protecting their staff with the full PPE but others aren’t? It’s either a killer virus or it’s not. That’s the worrying thing. You hear in the media about how deadly it can be even to healthy young people, you see the staff wearing all the PPE such as the face shield and gown etc.. then our ward is told to barely wear anything. Im just a bit confused to be honest.

All they keep saying is guidelines are changing every day. Can anyone confirm if I wear a surgical mask will it protect me from catching coronavirus? They also do have n95 but they are telling us that surgical is sufficient.

Are you in the UK, because we don't have N95 masks, we have FFP3's. If in the UK there was a biggish guidance change yesterday. Check the PHE website and that will give you the definitive answers. There is a large, complex document but also some easy understand posters,

@helpfulperson thanks! Yes sorry just calling them the n95 so that everyone knows which one I mean. The round one that fits tighter to your face. Il have a look now thank you again

I’ve just had a look at the document dated 2nd April. It does actually say unless you are performing an aerosol procedure that a surgical mask is fine. However it then says the FFP masks should be worn if available. I think the main question is will a surgical mask stop us from catching it if the patient coughs while I'm standing next to them etc..? I think I will take extra precaution and see how things go next week. If I get a chance I will put my question above to management and see what the answer is. Thanks guys

I work in a London hospital. To be honest, the PPE debate now seems pretty academic. When you walk into work you realise almost every surface, every patient, every staff member is a source of potential contamination. Pretty much every patient is now COVID +ive.

We have access to most PPE and we are doing everything we can to help staff who are naturally scared but it seems inevitable to me that we will all catch it pretty soon regardless.

If it helps, now we have started testing staff we are getting a fair few positives from staff who have had very minor symptoms. A sore throat only for example. So it seems likely that a lot of us will have already been infected or will have a mild case.