On BBC Radio 5 Live’s Your Call yesterday, Nicky Campbell took calls from care home workers, relatives of residents, doctors and other experts who have been working tirelessly in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.
During one heart-wrenching interview, a carer revealed she had to wear swimming goggles because of the absence of PPE.
The heartbreaking stories and first-hand accounts tell a story of care homes in crisis, a general lack of adequate PPE and a “forgotten frontline” in the fight against coronavirus.
Speaking on yesterday’s Your Call, Nicky Campbell said: “I knew it was going to be shocking, I knew it was going to be upsetting, but I didn’t quite prepare myself for what I was going to hear.”
Nicky Campbell discussed the lack of PPE for frontline workers on BBC 5 Live’s Breakfast show (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Jane, an independent living carer in Hampshire, told Nicky that she is having to wear her “mask and goggles” from her time spent as a swimming teacher.
She explained: “We have no PPE whatsoever.
“We’ve tried every single avenue possible but we’ve got nothing. If the person I’m caring for gets sick, then I have to decide if I abandon her or risk my own life – I have my own health issues and I have a parent with terminal cancer.”
A carer said she had to wear swimming goggles because there was no protective clothing available (Image: NurPhoto/PA Images)
And the lack of PPE was also discussed by Ruth, a care home manager.
She said: “We’re running really low on PPE, can’t get any of our clients tested and we have four suspected cases. The staff are doing amazing work, but the morale is getting quite low.
“I’m having a really low day today. (My staff) are getting paid about 4p more than minimum wage and they’re doing an amazing job, but it’s really hard to keep them up.”
The Government has been criticised for not having sufficient supplies to deal with the pandemic (Image: 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty)
The Government has been heavily criticised over a lack of sufficient gowns, masks and other vital pieces of kit for employees working on the frontline.
Last Friday, the doctors’ union revealed it had learned that current PPE supplies in London and Yorkshire were not sufficient to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak.
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast
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