PPE failures

During the first wave of the pandemic, the TUC called on the government to set up an independent, judge-led public inquiry into the “grotesque” failure to provide frontline workers with adequate PPE. It said the failure to give staff adequate PPE resulted in workers being exposed to unnecessary risk.  In November, a National Audit Office report, The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a number of government failures.

Health and social care workers were particularly badly let down, and their unions said there were again reports of shortages during the national lockdown which began in January 2021. Unite general union national officer Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said the union was “again receiving distressing reports about a lack of PPE for staff treating highly infectious, sick patients” as well as rising numbers of staff self-isolating or contracting COVID-19.