PPE-Personal protective equipment, refers to the equipment which protects users’ health and safety risks at work. Healthcare workers use PPE, but usage is not limited to this profession; construction workers, chefs, engineers all of these professions use PPE. In particular in light of the current pandemic, it is important to consider which PPE healthcare professionals use. This usually consists of a medical mask, gown, gloves and some form of eye protection be it goggles or a face shield. For aerosol-generating procedures such as intubating a patient, (which is performed on COVID patients) a particular ‘N95 respirator’ or ‘FFP2’ standard is recommended. Surgical masks in themselves done protect against smaller airborne particles, and the loose fitting has potential for transmission of these particles.

Why does PPE matter?

PPE is needed when treating COVID patients because the primary mode of transmission in patients is through droplets. This is usually through coughs and sneezes, which is often difficult to contain. Without the correct PPE use patients pose an unacceptable risk to healthcare professionals, according to the council of the BMA. Most of the PPE used is single use equipment, and should ideally be disposed after use, this is especially true for gowns, gloves, aprons and surgical masks. Goggles and face shields can be reused, if decontaminated.

The current issue is the lack of PPE in both a clinical and community care healthcare setting (for example care homes). Despite the government repeatedly saying there is enough PPE to go around, the BMA has highlighted that the supply of PPE is critically low, especially in places like Yorkshire and Central London. There are numerous examples on social media of healthcare professionals having to reuse PPE, and in some rarer cases making their own PPE. 

There was a survey carried out by the BMA which showed that more than half the doctors which work in high-risk environments had a shortage, or no adequate supply of face masks, which are arguably the most important PPE needed. The royal college of surgeons has also mentions that doctor should not risk their own health if they don’t have the correct equipment to deliver care, safely. In fact the royal college of nursing has mentioned that if adequate PPE is not supplied to nurses then their members can refuse to treat patients as a last resort.

The issue with the lack of PPE is not limited to the UK, the whole world is experiencing it. The world health organisation published some data in mid-March stating that the global supply of PPE is insufficient, especially for medical masks, and there is very likely going to be a shortage of gowns and goggles. Although so far the UK government has provided more than 761 million pieces of PPE. On Friday 10th April the Health Secretory Matt Hancock unveiled a new PPE plan, with 3 core standpoints. The first being guidance on being clear who in particular requires the PPE, while the second point focused mainly on the importance and logistics of delivery of the PPE to where they are needed most, and finally it was about ways we can increase supply, getting more British companies to create PPE.