I was recently contacted by an NHS nurse who is deeply concerned about the current PPE provision.  Below is the message that I received from them.

I know that their words will convey the great sense of dread and fear that many healthcare workers and their families feel better than I ever could.  

I have sent this message to Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asked him to read it, and do everything possible to properly equip the brave healthcare workers who are at the forefront of the battle against coronavirus, not only for their safety, but for the safety of the country and for the peace of mind of their families.

‘As an NHS nurse in community and a mother of 2 very scared children I am asking you to address in parliament the huge number Of Covid related deaths of health care workers. Despite adherence to PPE guidance most of us are very fearful that it is inadequate. We are often the first people to recognise the patients have covid symptoms. We are also going into covid Positive patients who are nursed at home. We are going into patients homes with no control over the environment in terms of infection control. We do not know who has it and are in households where more than one person live. We are given surgical masks of poor fit and break easily. The aprons only partially cover our uniforms. The visors were donated and mine is falling apart I will try to source a new one on my next shift. The number of healthcare workers who have needlessly lost their lives is criminal. We may be called hero’s but we are not expendable. I am entitled to feel safe at work but I don’t. Where is the evidence that the level PPE is sufficient and if so why so many deaths. How many more of us will die? All we want is filtering masks for all contact with covid patients and full coverage to include our hair and feet. (I have purchased my own hair covers and car seat covers and passed these to my colleagues as we are worried about what is carried on our uniforms ect and to the next patient. It’s a small price to protect us. What is the evidence that says we are safe using the currently recommended PPE by NHS England? Why is it different from the WHO? and why so many healthcare deaths in comparison to other countries? 

‘I have attached a letter from my daughter written to let us know why she cannot sleep on her own at night due to fear of me dying from Covid.’