Advice on protective gear for NHS staff was rejected owing to cost
Important scoop by @harryfoxdavies that explains by Jeremy Hunt should not be given a free pass.
ALSO A lesson why Scientific advisers should not water down safety advice theguardian.com/world/2020/mar…
Important scoop by @harryfoxdavies that explains by Jeremy Hunt should not be given a free pass.
ALSO A lesson why Scientific advisers should not water down safety advice theguardian.com/world/2020/mar…
In 2015, the Dept of Health tasked one of its independent advisory committees, the new & emerging respiratory virus threat advisory group (Nervtag), to review the UK’s approach to stockpiling personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in an influenza pandemic 
This succeeded the 2014 Operation Cygnet that also revealed the glaring holes in the Government Pandemic planning.
In 2016 the group of experts within Nervtag agreed recommendations for eg eye masks for hospitals, community, ambulance & social care staff.
In 2016 the group of experts within Nervtag agreed recommendations for eg eye masks for hospitals, community, ambulance & social care staff.
Despite saying that the equipment was necessary to avoid risk of infection through the eyes, under cost pressures from Hunt’s Department in 2017 (by which a rerun of Operation Cygnet had again shown failures in planning), they were asked to review the cost benefit analysis.
The advice was then watered down to buying enough eye protection for “exceptional usage in higher risk circumstances and when used with respirator masks during aerosol generating procedures.”
It was a young whistleblowing ophtalmologist in China that died of COVID.
It was a young whistleblowing ophtalmologist in China that died of COVID.
So although Hunt now chairs the Health Select Committee & has been calling out the inadequacy if the Government’s response he was in charge of responses to pandemic planning.
FFE3 masks were also recommended for ALL staff in ALL areas when a patient with pandemic flu is present
FFE3 masks were also recommended for ALL staff in ALL areas when a patient with pandemic flu is present
So a nurse in Yorkshire ended up buying her own FFP3 mask for £100. I hope that included full PPE equipment or the supplier should be outed for price gouging those who save our lives..
Advice from Nertag to update Infection control guidance was “not considered a priority”
Advice from Nertag to update Infection control guidance was “not considered a priority”
The Government downgraded its safety equipment advice to below the standards set by @WHO and personnel have been using bin liners to cover feet and plastic aprons to cover heads.
