Three in four GPs fear for their lives due to lack of sufficient PPE during coronavirus crisis
THREE in four GPs fear for their lives because of inadequate equipment to protect them against coronavirus.
And one in four have seen Covid-19 patients face-to-face without personal protective equipment, a poll reveals.
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The survey of 675 British GPs has also found six in ten are operating a “no PPE, no see” policy when dealing with patients.
The poll, by medical magazine Pulse, came as it was revealed six GPs have died from Covid-19.
Meanwhile, urgent action was called for to tackle the disproportionate number of deaths among black and ethnic health workers.
All but one of the 26 doctors and two thirds of NHS staff who have died from Covid-19 have been from ethnic minority groups.
More than half of GPs quizzed for the Pulse survey said they felt unsafe owing to a lack of PPE, while three quarters said they feared for their lives.
A number of GPs said they had seen patients who showed no symptoms — but were later found to be positive at the time.
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That has led to calls for a catch-all rule to consider all patients potentially infected.
Fears over doctor safety have led a trainee GP and his wife to launch a legal challenge against the Government over PPE guidance.
Dr Nishant Joshi and clinical fellow in medicine Dr Meenal Viz, who is pregnant, are concerned current PPE standards and availability are inadequate, their solicitors say.
A British Medical Association survey this week revealed more than a third of GPs still lack eye protection and feel unsafe.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said tonight: “It is our absolute priority to make sure frontline healthcare staff are protected and feel safe.
“We are working around the clock to ensure PPE is delivered as quickly as possible to the front line.”
SOARING DEATHS
The Government has also been urged to take urgent action to tackle the soaring deaths from black and Asian communities as more frontline medics have died.
The UK’s most senior doctors fear ministers have seriously misjudged the level of risk to ethnic minorities.
A third of Covid-19 intensive care beds are occupied by black or Asian patients, yet they make up just 13 per cent of the UK population.
Lord Victor Adebowale, chairman of the NHS Confederation, said: “This is a matter of life or death for frontline staff from BME communities.”
Dr Chandra Kanneganti, chairman of the British International Doctors Association, said: “Without doctors from black, Asian and ethnic minority groups, the NHS would have collapsed.
Fake mask warning
SCAMMERS are cashing in by selling fake or duff personal protective equipment, police are warning.
It comes after Surrey and Surrey Police recalled 2,700 masks with a fake certificate they had issued to frontline officers.
Lynne Owens, inset, head of the National Crime Agency, said PPE fraud was on the rise and pledged: “We will take swift action.”
Coronavirus-related fraud stands at £2.4million.
Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed: “I refuse to allow criminals to take advantage of these unprecedented times.”
“Yet asking them to carry on serving on the front line when some may be at increased risk of infection is like asking them to commit suicide.”
It comes as a nurse died in the hospital where she cared “relentlessly” for coronavirus patients.
Mahadaye Jagroop, 66 — known as Mary — died at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham. The mum of one was hailed as a “warrior”.
Long-standing colleague Suzette Smith added: “I can still remember our last conversation, which was full of laughter.”
Khalid Jamil, 57, a care assistant at Watford General Hospital, has also died.
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The father of two, from St Albans, worked for West Herts NHS Trust, which said he was “a kind, gentle man who was respectful”.
The number of NHS workers killed by Covid-19 is 104 — a rise of 61 in a week.
Recently retired cardiologist Dr Ajit Agarwal, 68, has also died from the virus at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, after returning from Abu Dhabi, where he is feared to have caught the virus.
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