This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Six in 10 doctors facing shortage of scrubs
A survey of UK doctors undertaken by the Doctors’ Association UK has revealed that dozens of hospitals are running short of scrubs during the coronavirus pandemic.
In what is being deemed the latest issue concerning the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the UK, the survey found that 61 per cent of doctors claim that the hospital where they worked was facing a shortage of scrubs.
Usually used mainly by surgical staff, the number of wider staff wearing scrubs has increased in recent months to protect themselves against coronavirus. Many have switched from wearing their own clothes at work to using scrubs, and handing them in to be washed at the end of their shift.
However, the big increase in demand for scrubs from doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists has left many hospitals unable to keep up and also put unprecedented pressure on hospital cleaning services.
Samantha Batt-Rawden, the president of he Doctors’ Association UK, said: “Six in 10 doctors responding to our survey said that they had no access to scrubs at their place of work. In addition to personal protective equipment, the provision of scrubs for healthcare workers is vital to ensuring that they don’t take the infection home with them.
“Protective clothing must be considered to be at a par with other PPE by Public Health England and must be provided to staff by the NHS. A failure to adequately supply scrubs to staff may risk further community spread of Covid-19.”
A newly formed charity, the Scrub and Face Protection Hub, has started supplying scrubs and other PPE, such as visors and masks, to what has quickly grown to 25 hospitals.
The NHS denied there were shortages.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
