Doctors and Nurses need better masks

[EnemyOfEducationNo1]

Doctors and nurses are asking for full FFP3 for ALL medical staff in ALL clinical settings (not just with Covid positive identified patients) due to the airborne nature of the virus.

www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n30

We should all support this by writing to our MPs

I agree.
A friend was put on a Covid positive ward in December. All they have is 2R surgical face masks. Unsurprisingly all the nurses on the ward, and their family members, have had Covid.

Yes absolutely, by now it shouldn't even be discussed, they should be in top notch equipment and if course windows open!!

I bet these 70s style hospital don't have windows to open but it really should be NHS policy!!

Appalling. I don't know why this isn't all over the media !

Yes! Did anyone else notice when JVT was photographed giving vaccines he had a superior mask to what PPE is given to the average HCP?

God no, so hard to breathe in the FFP3 masks, we have loads on my ward but staff prefer to wear the surgical ones.

I'm not a dr or nurse but a radiographer
We have the same as other staff now

But at the very beginning we had to fight to get masks. We weren't seen as important enough.

If I go up to covid itu which I do on a daily basis I am fully donned. Respirator hood, surgical gowns etc.
Great

However if I scan a covid patient downstairs on my scanner. I just have a surgical mask and normal gloves.
Makes no sense.

All healthcare professionals need full ppe all of the time.

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast

I'm not a dr or nurse but a radiographer We have the same as other staff now

But at the very beginning we had to fight to get masks. We weren't seen as important enough.

If I go up to covid itu which I do on a daily basis I am fully donned. Respirator hood, surgical gowns etc.
Great

However if I scan a covid patient downstairs on my scanner. I just have a surgical mask and normal gloves.
Makes no sense.

All healthcare professionals need full ppe all of the time.

That's just mad!

Nhs hospital staff here. I agree

They had a paramedic on news earlier saying the same. They have same paper mask you wear to Tesco’s but could be stuck in ambulance waiting 3h outside a hospital with a coughing and v sick patient who they have to get close to and treat.

The only reason not to change rules on PpE is that they couldn’t keep up with demand for proper mask as would need millions a day.

sister works on ICU and Covid wards - still not got proper PPE

I agree. However our policy is with all patients covid positive or not, full PPE is a surgical mask, Goggles or visor, plastic apron and gloves.

If a patient is having an aerosol generated procedure then an FFP3 mask is worn instead of a surgical mask and a long sleeved apron!

It's madness!!

Does make you wonder why this is acceptable but at same time most hotels or nursing homes are refused insurance for NHS to move recovery patients to be nursed there. In case someone else in building catches it and sues. But if you are a nurse on a ward or patient in ward catches it you can’t sue the NHS

There is really no excuse now. I can buy FFP2 and FFP3 masks online, albeit at £5 per mask. Other countries have managed to find this standard of mask from the start. The UK's way only makes sense if we're going for herd immunity, and don't care who dies in the process.

@AspergersMum

There is really no excuse now. I can buy FFP2 and FFP3 masks online, albeit at £5 per mask. Other countries have managed to find this standard of mask from the start. The UK's way only makes sense if we're going for herd immunity, and don't care who dies in the process.

I have to agree that we are still going for the debunked and dangerous (vaccine escape mutations anyone?) herd immunity. Hence why no effective mitigations are allowed in schools - the aim is to infect as much of the "not at risk" you g as possible, and any vulnerable education adults are acceptable collateral damage. There is no other possible reason.

Can we add care home staff to that too if working with positive cases.

This does my head in. Could we not have set up some kind of manufacturing base for these in the U.K., given we’ve had almost a year?

If there's a govt petition I'll sign - and many others will also.

@Incyra

Can we add care home staff to that too if working with positive cases.

Absolutely. And anyone doing personal care

Bump

I mean, I suppose so, but i really don't fancy working a full 12.5 hour shift wearing ffp3 masks to be honest. I think I'd rather continue to take the risk.
I agree the choice should be available for those who want it though!

Absolutely, informed choice!

@AspergersMum

There is really no excuse now. I can buy FFP2 and FFP3 masks online, albeit at £5 per mask. Other countries have managed to find this standard of mask from the start. The UK's way only makes sense if we're going for herd immunity, and don't care who dies in the process.

Unfortunately, without a fit test they may not be very effective.

HeyBeen, Less effective than a basic surgical mask? Really?

Viral dose is important. Something (even if not 100%, hell even if not 80%) is better than nothing.

Harmarsuperstar it is unlikely that you'd be asked to wear a FFP3 - FFP2 is very adequate.