Boris Johnson urged to tackle ‘inconsistencies’ in PPE guidance

Healthcare organisations have urged the prime minister to tighten the guidance around PPE to ensure workers are better protected from Covid-19.

In an open letter to the prime minister, the organisations – which include the Royal College of Nursing – warn at least 930 health and care workers to date have lost their lives and many more are suffering from the long-term effects of the disease.

But it adds current guidance around PPE ‘does not accurately depict the airborne risks’ that the disease poses in health and care settings.

‘We believe that given the rapid emergence and evolution of new variants of concern, a change in approach must be implemented at speed to protect patients and staff consistently across the UK’.

The letter calls on Boris Johnson to ensure all care providers improve the quality of ventilation in their facilities to reduce the risks of Covid-19 being spread in the air.

It also calls on the government to publish data on health care workers who have contracted Covid-19 at work, so settings where staff are most at risk can be identified.

‘This is a UK-wide issue,’ the letter states. ‘Where coordinated, national action could make a decisive difference.

‘We therefore look to the UK government, and you as prime minister, to take the lead and address the inconsistencies and gaps in guidance, and in the protection of patients and health and care workers.’

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