PPE shortage paints a very bad picture

Dail committee hears of shocking stopgap measures. Govt accused of leaving facilities & residents isolated

- FERGHAL BLANEY and CATE McCURRY

STAFF at nursing homes had to wear painters’ overalls and goggles and relied on protective equipment from a vet as they struggled to get stock, it has been revealed.

The huge backlog in PPE forced hundreds of care facilities in Ireland to introduce contingency measures.

Correspondence between the Department of Health and Nursing Homes Ireland was given to members of the special Covid-19 Oireachtas committee yesterday.

In a survey carried out by NHI on April 7 and 8, managers at nursing homes outlined their difficulties in sourcing PPE.

One stated they are using painters’ overalls and goggles and surgical masks.

Another said they had received eye protection from a local school, overalls from a vet as well as face masks purchased from a dressmaker.

Others spoke of being “exhausted” worrying about the supply of PPE, while another added the staff were “threatening to leave if we cannot provide them with the appropriate PPE”.

The survey was sent to the health department.

Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane said the correspondence illustrated concerns raised by NHI chief Tadhg Daly.

Mr Daly has criticised the State’s response to nursing homes, accusing the Government of leaving facilities and residents “isolated”.