The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has called upon the Government to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for community-based nursing staff. Nurses are continuing to care for patients in their own homes, care homes, hospices and other social care settings during the coronavirus crisis. But they are still struggling to access adequate supplies of PPE and hand sanitiser, and still do not have access to COVID-19 testing.
Theresa Fyffe, RCN independent sector lead, described the situation as ‘unconscionable’, adding: ‘Our members are telling us that they simply are not getting the PPE they need, and there is evidence of hospices and care homes asking for donations of gloves, goggles and aprons; this situation simply cannot continue.’
In the UK care home network alone, care is being provided to 270,000 patients, often with complex care needs. The RCN points out that nurses are continuing to provide care to such patients without the PPE to keep themselves, their families and other patients safe.
‘I am calling on the government to urgently prioritise the flow of equipment which they say is available, to ensure every single member of the nursing profession is safe to go to work,’ said Ms Fyffe.‘Every minute we wait is a minute too long. All staff, no matter where they work, must feel safe. The RCN will continue to raise this issue until it is resolved.’
Elsewhere a statement by UNISON, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB, Unite, TUC and others described the shortage of PPE as ‘a crisis within a crisis’.
The UK hospital death toll from COVID-19 rose by 563 on Wednesday to 2,352. This included two teenagers, with no underlying health problems.