The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) is clear that members who are on the frontline or in high-risk community-based health settings should not be placed at risk by the provision of insufficient or inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
On Sunday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick MP, stated that “We should not ask people to be on the front-line without the right protective equipment”.
As occupational therapists, RCOT members have a duty of care to not put themselves, their colleagues or people using their services at unnecessary risk through potential exposure to the COVID 19 virus. We are fully aware that members are concerned about accessing the appropriate PPE, concerns which have echoed the growing concerns across the NHS and particularly Social Care.
RCOT encourages members to ensure that they are familiar with instructions and procedures within their employing organisation on infection control and levels of protection, in line with government and national guidance. If members feel unsafe or believe the advice they are receiving is in conflict with that guidance, they should bring it to the attention of their senior management to resolve.
RCOT has been working on behalf of members, and in conjunction with fellow Allied Health Professional bodies, to press the matter:
- A joint letter was sent to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock on Friday 27th March to raise concerns about the lack of PPE and testing for 150,000 AHPs.
- A written parliamentary question was submitted to the Department for Health & Social Care via the Shadow Education Minister, Emma Hardy MP, to ask how many Allied Health Professionals have access to PPE currently to highlight it as an on-going concern.
- We are continuing to liaise closely with the Chief Allied Health Professions Officers in all four nations and to keep them informed of the issues our members are experiencing.
Chief Executive Julia Scott commented:
“The work that our members are doing in order to support the NHS and Social Care during this COVID-19 crisis is hugely important. Like many other key health and care professions, they are risking their own health and well being in people’s homes, hospitals and care homes in order to support people as they recover from coronavirus. The stories we have been hearing from members when it comes to access to PPE are extremely concerning. The issue is not just to do with the amount of equipment available, but also the quality of the Personal Protective Equipment that is being supplied.
Therefore, we call upon the governments of all four nations to give more assurances to workers in the NHS and Social Care that they should not be risking their own health and well being unless they have adequate access to good quality PPE.
Furthermore, we call on the administrations of all four nations to make the provision of suitable PPE for occupational therapists and all of the AHPs in the NHS and Social Care an immediate priority.”
Further advice on staying safe and PPE can be found at rcot.co.uk/covid19