Coronavirus Kent: GPs slam 'shambolic situation' of PPE in letter to Kent MPs
20:43, 20 April 2020
updated: 20:46, 20 April 2020
Senior doctors in the county have blasted the "shambolic situation" as Kent GPs face a harmful lack of personal protection equipment (PPE).
Leading members of the Kent Local Medical Committee (LMC), which represents GPs working in Kent, have written to MPs urging them to help surgeries.
In a letter sent today, the doctors urge the county's 17 MPs to "use their influence" to help LMC members feel safer at work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Doctors say they "strongly condemn the current shambolic situation regarding the lack of adequate PPE made available to GPs and practice staff".
The group have called on MPs to help make sure PPE "in accordance with World Health Organisation guidance" is provided to health and social care staff in Kent "immediately".
They add the actions will restrict more frontline staff from coming to "preventable harm due to the lack of PPE".
In the letter, the doctors – including Faversham's Gaurav Gupta and Medway's Julian Spinks – say: "We consider it unacceptable to present any health and social care workers with the dilemma of having to see patients and clients without adequate protection.
"To date we are not aware of any GP practice that has received adequate supplies of appropriate PPE to comply with Public Health England from central stock.
"Specifically, the recommended eye protection is unavailable to GPs from the central stock.
"We are aware that practices are having to rely on donations, personal innovation and the creativity of community supporters for which we are grateful. We need to be assured that PPE sourced through these channels is safe and dependable.
"The government must address the lack of adequate PPE and treat health and social care workers as the precious resource they are.
"We ask all Kent MPs as our elected representatives to exert pressure on the government and all relevant bodies to address this failing immediately and to ensure no Kent health and social care workers are infected with Covid-19 in the service of their clients and patients."
Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign has been set up for opthamalogy teams based in east Kent to supply masks and gowns.
The GoFundMe page has raised more than £6,000 towards its £20,000 target.
The government has come under increasing pressure to ensure the NHS is fully supplied with personal protection equipment.
A delivery of 250,000 pieces – including face masks, surgical masks and suits – arrived at RAF Brize Norton on Saturday from Turkey.
"The government must address the lack of adequate PPE and treat health and social care workers as the precious resource they are"
A further 400,000 items were due to be delivered on Sunday but have faced "challenges at the Turkish end", culture secretary Oliver Dowden said earlier today.
He said the plane is due to leave this afternoon with the delivery expected to be handed out tomorrow.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the government is working hard to supply PPE.
A new taskforce to bolster manufacturing of PPE in the UK has today been confirmed by Mr Sunak.
It will be headed up by Lord Deighton, who was in charge of the London 2012 Olympics organising committee.
