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An 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.
A review of the UK’s lockdown measures will take place later this week.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab chaired a meeting on the coronavirus outbreak on Monday.
Mr 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”.
Mr Hopson 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.”
Mr Hopson said that “the vast majority” of preparations for the outbreak within the NHS had gone well, with “nearly all” stocks of PPE “flowing in the way that trusts would like”.
“The bit where there’s a particular problem was gowns,” he said. “We know that over the last 72 hours some trusts have run critically low on gowns.
“No trust, as far as I’m aware, has actually run out but some of the stocks are very, very low.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed public services will receive more than £14bn from the government’s coronavirus emergency response fund, including more than £6bn for health services.
The Treasury said the funding would go towards freeing up hospital beds and delivering “urgent priorities” such as acquiring ventilators, diagnostic tests and protective equipment for NHS staff.
What is a gown?
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A gown is a piece of PPE used to protect the body of those who might come into contact with coronavirus.
It should be made of water-resistant material and have long sleeves. If the gown is not water resistant, a waterproof apron is needed underneath to protect the wearer from droplets containing the virus.
The World Health Organization says gowns should be worn by all doctors, nurses and cleaners who enter coronavirus patients’ rooms in hospitals.
They should also be used by those handling coronavirus samples in labs and healthcare workers, cleaners and ambulance crews in places where patients with suspected coronavirus symptoms are seen.
It comes as Downing Street denied that cabinet minister Michael Gove’s daughter being tested for coronavirus was an example of “double standards”. Tests are not yet available for most people and mainly reserved for seriously ill patients in hospital.
The prime minister’s spokesman said the test was carried out “on the advice of the chief medical officer and in line with medical guidance”.
The spokesman said Mr Gove’s job is a “central role in the government’s response” and the test meant he “could get back to work”.
Latest government figures show 18,000 tests were carried out on Saturday. There are 23 drive-through testing sites now open for NHS staff, No 10 said.
Meanwhile, No 10 has said Mr Johnson will recover at Chequers – the PM’s official country residence – as it was “considered to be a suitable place”. The spokesman added Mr Johnson will not be carrying out government work.
Mr Raab is currently in charge of running the government.
On Sunday, Mr Johnson thanked NHS staff after being discharged from hospital in London, where he was being treated for Covid-19 – the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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It is unclear whether the prime minister will take part in the lockdown review, which is due to be carried out by Thursday.
Wales’ health minister said last week that the lockdown would remain for “several more weeks at the very least”.
And Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned there was “no likelihood or prospect” of measures being lifted after the Easter weekend.
Latest figures for the UK’s total number of hospital deaths linked to coronavirus will be released later on Monday. On Sunday, the UK hospital death toll reached 10,612.
NHS England said on Monday that a further 667 patients with coronavirus had died in the country, while a further 15 deaths were recorded in Wales, and a further nine in Scotland.
Sam Monaghan, the head of the UK’s largest charity care provider MHA, told BBC Breakfast that about 150 of its residents had died with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, as well as two staff members.
It comes as 12 residents of a County Durham care home have now died after displaying symptoms of coronavirus.
In other developments:
- A six-month-old baby is being treated in hospital for coronavirus
- The Post Office has extended its ask-a-friend scheme so anyone who cannot leave home may authorise a trusted person to withdraw cash for them
- Mortuary suppliers have told BBC News they have no stocks of standard body bags left for sale, blaming stockpiling due to the coronavirus pandemic for the shortage
- Nearly 200 members of the armed forces are being deployed to help ambulance staff battle the coronavirus pandemic
- Around 12% of firefighters and control room staff in some areas are self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic, says the firefighters’ union. The Fire Brigades Union has called on the government to provide urgent coronavirus testing of its members so they can return to work
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