Coronavirus: Labour MP Nadia Whittome ‘sacked’ as carer after ‘speaking out’ about PPE shortages

‘It is my duty ... to be honest about the lack of PPE and testing as this is putting the lives of care workers and those they care for at risk,’ says Nadine Whittome

A Labour MP has claimed she was “effectively sacked” from her part-time job at a care home after she spoke out about the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) on local and national media.

Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, had been working at Lark Hill retirement village after she chose to return to work to help with the coronavirus crisis. She worked there for 18 months before becoming an MP and had been donating her wages to a local Covid-19 relief fund since returning.

But the 23-year-old was told she would not be asked to do any more shifts at the care home. ExtraCare Charitable Trust, which runs the home, accused her of “spreading misinformation about the lack of protective equipment available to staff”, she said.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight on 23 April, Ms Whittome said during her work on the front line she saw masks limited to one per day per worker, homemade visors donated by the public, and PPE being locked away in a store cupboard because management feared staff would sell it “for a lot of money” if they had access.

She also claimed staff were told that masks did not make a difference, but they could buy the facial protection from hardware store Screwfix if that made them “feel more comfortable”.

In a statement, Ms Whittome said she was “appalled” by the care home’s decision.

“It is my duty – not just as an MP but as a frontline worker with a voice in the media – to be honest about the lack of PPE and testing as this is putting the lives of care workers and those they care for at risk.

“I am appalled that ExtraCare have chosen this course of action, without following any due process and without me ever having portrayed them negatively in the media. I will continue to speak the truth about my frontline experiences and I condemn care companies who try to gag staff for speaking out and raising concerns.

“I can survive being effectively sacked for speaking out, because I have another income. But for so many people in social care – who work a skilled, exhausting and now dangerous job for poverty pay – speaking out is not an option.

“This is wrong, and dangerous for care home residents and patients,” she added.

Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted an article about Ms Whittome’s experience, adding: “Carers, right across our country, are putting their lives on the line for others but they aren’t being provided the personal protective equipment they need. No one should be sacked for speaking out.”

ExtraCare Charitable Trust said reports about a lack of PPE at the retirement village were “inaccurate” and that Ms Whittome’s “help is no longer needed”.

“At Lark Hill, we have over three months’ supply of PPE, including over 25,000 pairs of gloves, 7,700 aprons and nearly 6,000 masks – we have access to further equipment should we need it,” said a spokesperson.

“Reports that we have a PPE shortage are inaccurate and have caused concern amongst our residents – we have had to invest a significant amount of staff time reassuring our residents as a result.

“This has occurred during a critical period when all of our resources have to be focused on protecting our residents’ safety and welfare.”

Ms Whittome is asking any care worker who has faced “intimidation, silencing or disciplinary action for speaking up during the Covid-19 crisis” to come forward and write to her about their experiences.