Urgent action needed over PPE crisis in social care – The Yorkshire Post says

For some, improvements to the supply – and distribution – of so-called PPE equipment is already too late. The number of doctors and nurses making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty now tops more than a dozen.

And that number will, tragically, continue to rise unless doctors and social carers working in local communities have the necessary equipment when being asked to assist Covid-19 victims.

Yes, it is heartening that universities and schools in Yorkshire are using their own facilities to produce face masks and so on. But respected local authority leaders here fear that an “acute” shortage of PPE equipment in care homes, and such like, are already leading to staff levels becoming dangerously depleted – a call echoed by Local Medical Councils.

And, ominously, they foresee further difficulties when it comes to discharging elderly and vulnerable patients from hospitals after treatment for fractures and other routine ailments – the pandemic hasn’t stopped hip fractures for example.

Difficult at the best of times, it’s even more important that there is spare capacity in care homes, and so on, so hospitals can focus on the Covid-19 fight. This serves as another reminder that NHS and social care provision needs to be seamless. Both sectors can’t operate in isolation. Yet this remains a daily occurrence which, regrettably, begs this question: What will it take for Ministers to act?

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor