During an inquiry into Scotland’s response to the Covid pandemic, Dr Chris Williams, deputy chairman of the Royal College of GPs, revealed that some doctors felt they did not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) at the start of the pandemic. Williams told the inquiry that there was a feeling that the PPE guidance was based on what was available rather than what was appropriate. As a result, some GPs repurposed bin bags for aprons, while others bought higher-grade face masks online instead of using NHS ones.
The supply and distribution of PPE is one of the focuses of the independent probe into Scotland’s response to the pandemic. The Royal College of GPs gave evidence that it was an area of concern for some of its members. Williams, who works at a surgery in the Highlands, spoke of the anxiety and nervousness expressed by many doctors about their PPE. Members of the community dropping off handmade masks and painters overalls helped to bolster the supplies of PPE.
Dr Carey Lunan, a former chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, also spoke at the inquiry and told of concerns about the quality, quantity, and reliability of PPE supplies. Many GPs purchased their own FFP3 masks because they did not feel that the fluid-resistant masks issued by the NHS would give them adequate protection. Lord Brailsford is presiding over the inquiry, which continues to investigate what happened during Scotland’s response to the pandemic and what can be learned from the country’s experiences during future public health emergencies.
In the first months of the Covid pandemic, there were reports that the NHS suffered from shortages of some coronavirus protective equipment. Global demand for items like gloves and masks was at unprecedented levels, making it difficult for healthcare workers to have access to adequate PPE. The inquiry is examining what happened during these early months, including the lack of PPE and how this impacted the spread of the virus among healthcare workers
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