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They are putting their lives at risk to try and save
ours – the least we can do is protect theirs, says GMB
Union
GMB has written to the Health Secretary to demand all
NHS and social care workers are given access to full PPE to
prevent more unnecessary deaths.
In the letter to [1], the union says in order to save lives, workers
must be provided with full coverage of skin, hair and clothing,
including head covers; goggles; FFP3 masks; coveralls or
long-sleeved gowns; shoe coverings; medical grade
gloves.
According to the ONS, 618 health and social care
workers' deaths in England and Wales were linked to covid-19 up
to 30 June 2020 (the latest date for which figures are
available). [2]
This is the second time the union has written to the
Health Secretary making this demand on behalf of
members.
Since the start of the pandemic, GMB has consistently
raised concerns about the lack of adequate PPE for health and
social workers.
Despite being assured by Ministers there are
sufficient levels of PPE, terrified members report working on the
front line with inadequate protection.
In November, ambulance workers blamed ‘second rate'
PPE for thousands of covid-related absences. [3]
Meanwhile in April a hospital worker faced the sack
for raising concerns about the lack of PPE. [4]
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer,
said:
“Our health and social care services are on the point
of collapse due to covid-related absence and Immense pressure on
the already creaking system.
“They are putting their lives at risk to try and save
ours – the least we can do is make sure they are properly
protected while they do it.
“Ministers must step in and make sure our health and
social care workers have what they need to keep us safe, or
thousands of people will die unnecessarily."
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] https://gmb.org.uk/sites/default/files/DHSC-letter-PPE-Health-Social-Care-120121.pdf
[2] According to the ONS, 618 health and social care
workers' deaths in England and Wales were linked to Covid-19 up
to 30 June 2020 (the latest date for which figures are
available).
And 673 NHS workers in England died in service of all
causes during the first six months of 2020. This was the highest
number of deaths in service recorded since the current data
series started in 2011/12, and it was 46 per cent higher than the
number of NHS workers that died in service in the first six
months of 2019. []
ONS, Coronavirus (COVID-19) related deaths by
occupation, England and Wales: before and during the lockdown, 22
September 2020 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/datasets/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbyoccupationenglandandwalesbeforeandduringthelockdown
NHS Digital, NHS Workforce Statistics - September
2020 (reasons for leaving tables), 22 December 2020 https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/september-2020
[3] https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/poor-ppe-blame-thousands-ambulance-workers-covid-19-absences
[4] https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/hospital-worker-could-be-sacked-over-face-mask-dispute
