UK hospital leaders criticize government for promises that can't be delivered

Hospital leaders in the United Kingdom have criticized the government for making announcements about personal protective equipment supplies that cannot be delivered amid “critically low” stocks in some health trusts.

NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts and ambulance services, says health workers need certainty about what they can expect.

“Bitter experience over the last few weeks has shown that until a consignment of gowns has landed, the boxes have been checked and the equipment tested, the NHS can’t count on the gowns being available for use at the front line,” NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said.

“Given the current uncertainties over gown manufacture and supply, due to global shortages, we suggest that any future announcements on what gowns might be available for delivery, when, just focus on what we can be certain of.”

The NHS Confederation, which also represents hospital trusts and other NHS services, says the government’s announcements are making the situation worse.

“It would have been better had the government not made the announcement in the first place -- we know shipments in this supply chain are unreliable and even when they do arrive they are not always what is expected. In future the NHS will expect announcements when supplies have arrived not promises about what may or may not be delivered,” NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson said.

"It now looks more likely that supplies of fluid repellent gowns could run out in some places but everything that can be done will be done to protect patients and staff.”

The UK government has faced intense criticism for its response to the coronavirus crisis, including the current shortage of PPE in hospitals.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told Sky News on Monday that the government is “working around the clock” to deal with the issue, including delivery of a plane load of supplies that are stuck in Turkey.

“Of course we would have wanted this flight from Turkey to take off yesterday. There’s been logistical challenges at the Turkish end, but we’re confident it will take off later today,” Dowden said.

The UK has reported more than 121,000 coronavirus cases, including 16,095 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.