COVID-19: NHS organisations strongly advised to adhere to national guidance regarding personal protection equipment for health care workers
Joint statement from UK anaesthetic and intensive care bodies
23 March 2020
In response to the news that NHS England is delivering more personal protection equipment (PPE) for frontline health care staff, some of our members are telling us:
that they are yet to receive this PPE
that they are not receiving fit testing for PPE.
The protection of our doctors and all health care workers across England and the devolved nations is of paramount importance if the NHS and the independent partnership is to deal with the COVID-19 situation effectively.
The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Intensive Care Society, Association of Anaesthetists and Royal College of Anaesthetists strongly recommend that all NHS departments, Trusts, Boards and hospitals adhere to the current guidance from NHS England and Public Health England on PPE including use of FFP3 masks and fit tests.
The safety and protection of NHS staff is vitally important to keep our critical care and anaesthetic services open and operational as this crisis deepens.
Our four organisations support the use of correctly face-fitted FFP3 mask as the standard required to protect clinicians when dealing with patients with or suspected to have COVID-19 infection during aerosol generating clinical procedures. We are aware of supply chain issues and advise any NHS departments, Trusts or hospitals with procurement problems to contact: 01138 250958/9.
Dr Alison Pittard
Dean, Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
Dr Ganesh Suntharalingam
President, Intensive Care Society
Dr Kathleen Ferguson
President, Association of Anaesthetists
Professor Ravi Mahajan
President, Royal College of Anaesthetists
ENDS