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PPE: Urgent update for members

20/04/2020

The SoR is acutely aware that there has been much concern over the weekend about the shortage of PPE and the delay to shipments which should have arrived on Sunday.
 
We want to remind all members that no one is expected to put their lives at risk because of a shortage of PPE. If a risk assessment demonstrates that you need PPE, then that should dictate its use, not availability.

To reiterate the advice provided to members previously:
 
The employer has a duty of care to staff under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which cannot be ignored or diluted. If the employer is not able to reduce the risk to the lowest that is reasonably possible by providing PPE, then there is no requirement on the staff to undertake that work. This applies to health care professionals and is, in fact, critical if the NHS is to function.

Risk assessment must include the 2m minimum safe distance that we are all instructed to maintain. When the two metre rule is included in risk assessments, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that PPE should be used for ALL patients unless they have been tested negative for Covid-19.

The Society of Radiographers continues to advise members, in the strongest possible terms, that they must be provided with the minimal appropriate PPE when dealing with all patients.

No members should be expected to put their life and the lives of their families at risk because of the lack of adequate protection. The lives of our members are as important as those of the patients they care for.

We are also concerned about the most recent government advice about re-use of PPE, particularly masks. Staff should not be expected to re-use PPE and that the World Health Organisation says, “No quality evidence is available to date on medical mask reprocessing and it is not advised.”

Go to the Covid-19 Infection control and PPE resources on the SCoR website.

    • Workforce, Governance and Regulations

      • MHRA website for reporting medicine side-effects and equipment incidents
      • Common employment questions
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      • PPE guidance posters for imaging and oncology teams
      • PPE: Urgent update for members
      • NHS staff urged to have flu vaccine
      • Resuscitation Council UK Statement on PHE PPE Guidance
      • SoR backs call for upgrade in PPE for healthcare staff
      • Treating patients who refuse to wear a mask or suitable face covering
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    • Education and students

      • e-Learning for Healthcare
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    • NHS Scotland

      • Covid special leave arrangements
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      • Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee
      • NHS pauses screening programmes across Scotland
      • NHS Scotland Psychosocial support and wellbeing - Looking after people, yourself, and your staff
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      • Health and Social Care in Wales – COVID-19: Looking Forward
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