LONDON – A National Health Service (NHS) boss has warned the number of protective gowns available to front-line staff in parts of the country has become “critically low” in recent days.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers in England, has called for a “more sustainable supply” of gowns, which are imported from China.
On Sunday, the health secretary said the amount of available PPE – personal protective equipment – was increasing.
It came as deaths in United Kingdom hospitals rose to 11 329 – up by 717 since Sunday.
The Department of Health said a further 4 342 people had tested positive for coronavirus as of 09 a.m. BST on Monday.
Meanwhile, a review of the UK’s lockdown measures will take place later this week.
‘Hand-to-mouth’
Hopson, from NHS Providers in England which represents hospital trusts, told BBC Breakfast that the number of protective gowns available to NHS staff in some parts of the country was “very, very low”.
He said that the NHS ordered “a whole load of stock” weeks ago, but delays have been caused by the gowns sometimes failing safety tests, while other batches have been mislabelled – meaning the NHS has ended up with additional masks.
He added: “If everything had been flowing exactly as had been ordered and if all of the material had properly passed its safety test, there would not be an issue.
“This is all really hand-to-mouth in terms of gown delivery, and we need to get to a more sustainable supply.”
At the government’s daily briefing on Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government was “working night and day to make sure we get the right PPE”.
“I’m glad to say there are now record amounts [of PPE] in the system,” he said, adding: “Daily we’re delivering millions of items to the frontline.”
On gowns, he said: “In the last two days 121 000 gowns have been delivered around the country and more are going out today and in the week to come.” (BBC)