Coronavirus: Hospitals delivered unusable masks and gowns in latest equipment crisis

Experts warn of sub-standard equipment as medics warn of surgical mask shortages

An emergency department nurse in protective clothing (PA)

NHS hospitals have been delivered unusable masks and gowns for staff treating coronavirus patients amid a shortage of personal protective equipment and advanced respirators.

Across the country, managers sourcing PPE have reported receiving sub-standard masks and gowns, which have had to be boxed and unused because they did not meet minimum standards.

The Independent has been told that many masks and gowns delivered at the weekend were not water repellent and can’t be used for treating coronavirus patients.

The latest supply shortage, this time affecting common surgical masks, has resulted in Public Health England advising trusts to use a respirator mask instead – but without the usual fit-testing to make sure the mask is secure. Without this, it can pose a risk of infection.

Last week, NHS England’s coronavirus director Keith Willett warned hospitals could be forced to share what supplies of surgical masks they had due to restrictions on deliveries coming into the UK.

At the weekend, Paul Ralston, head of procurement at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said on Twitter he had received three calls about sub-standard deliveries from the national stockpile. He said the PPE “cannot be used ... as [it] does not meet the correct standards”, and the equipment needed to be quarantined. He added: “This has to be sorted, we could be putting staff at risk if this continues.”

The Health Care Supply Association, which represents procurement managers in the NHS, told The Independent it had received numerous complaints.

A spokesperson said: “The HCSA are receiving numerous calls and updates from across the country of dangerously low stocks, and when they do receive the much-needed PPE this is followed by calls for them to quarantine or not use the PPE as it does not meet the minimum standards staff and patients need to remain safe.

“Typically, this happens very late at night too, waking up already tired and busy procurement teams that are trying hard to ensure staff and patients remain safe — a task getting harder by the day.”

The spokesperson added: “To date we have had all three masks types recalled — type 2R surgical, FFP2s and FFP3s — and gowns also.

“We are concerned for the weeks ahead if this does not improve.”

NHS staff in close proximity to Covid-19 patients need to be protected from droplets in the air and even smaller aerosol particles that can spread the virus. Shortages in equipment have been a persistent problem since the start of the outbreak.

The government has brought in the army to take over supplies of vital equipment 24 hours a day – and despite claims of millions of items being delivered, shortages are repeatedly experienced on the frontline with hospitals told to expect “just in time” deliveries.

To try to maintain control over supplies, the Department of Health and Social Care banned hospitals from sourcing their own equipment.

A letter sent to hospital chiefs last week from DHSC official Jonathan Marron and NHS England’s chief commercial officer Emily Lawson said: “It is vital that the UK government procures items nationally, rather than individual NHS organisations compete with each other for the same supplies, to protect the health of NHS staff and patients across the whole country.”

But the HCSA responded saying: “Local sourcing outside of the national system (encouraged by previous statements) has for most trusts been the only way to ensure access to a satisfactory volume and range of PPE.

“The HCSA believes that trusts will always need the flexibility and contingency to source locally but this should reduce as confidence in the national system increases.

“We request that existing trust direct orders are honoured, and goods not impounded upon delivery into the UK.”