GPs in one part of the UK have threatened to withdraw services amid continuing shortages of protective equipment, it has been reported.

Practice staff in Northern Ireland are “scared and anxious,” one GP said – while the NHS struggled with shortages of full-sleeve gowns. Problems had been predicted over the weekend and yesterday Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, described supplies as “hand to mouth.”

Some 52% of doctors involved in aerosol-generating procedures said they had access to the proper full sleeve gowns in a survey of 500 doctors conducted yesterday by the Doctors’ Association.
President Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden said: “The supply of gowns has faltered to the point where many trusts may soon run out. Our data shows that nearly half of all doctors doing the highest-risk procedures do not have access to gowns. This is unforgivable. Doctors are dying. Nurses are dying.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “Demand for this equipment is at unprecedented levels and several countries have placed export bans on the sale of PPE. We are working around the clock to give the NHS and the wider social care sector the equipment and support they need.”

The government says that companies including Burberry, Barbour, Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Diageo are all making protective equipment for the health and care sector. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said: “We understand the importance of getting PPE to the front line, whether it’s in care homes or the NHS. I think the strongest practical reassurance they will want and that we can give them is that over the bank holiday weekend over 16 million items were delivered.”

In Northern Ireland, GP leaders have threatened to withdraw services because of shortages of PPE, especially masks and aprons.

Dr George O’Neill, chair of the west Belfast federation, told the BBC “GPs were “scared and anxious. I have many GPs ringing me fearful not only for themselves but also their families whom they are returning home to. But also practice nurses who are particularly being placed at risk.

“What is also worrying is that they all said they couldn’t speak out as they were worried about their jobs. Now is not the time for that. That shouldn’t be an issue. Nurses are having to dress patients who have leg ulcers, who require bloods being taken; they are constantly at risk as are patients as there aren’t enough masks to go around.”

He added: “I am deeply concerned about what I know is happening in care homes. Elderly residents are dying and the staff are there with them, beside them, caring for them with many not having the correct gear.”

Northern Ireland health minister Robin Swann said: “I know our GPs are working hard for all of us and that they are still delivering critical services to the community, despite the unprecedented challenges they face. GPs continue to order and obtain PPE under the agreed processes. It is also why the primary care Covid-19 centres have been established in every trust, to preserve essential primary care services by reducing the pressure on general practice.”

The continuing shortages came amid new concerns about the state of the care sector – as UK government officials reported 92 outbreaks in homes in 24 hours.

The UK continued to report the highest daily number of deaths in Europe yesterday, reporting 717 new deaths in hospitals from Covid-19. This compared with less than 600 in Italy, Spain and France. The Spanish government announced plans to relax its lockdown while France insisted it would stay on strict lockdown until May. According to some reports today, the British government expects to keep strict lockdown, including school closures, for at least another three weeks.