Personal protective equipment or PPE is a term we are hearing a lot lately, and with good reason too. When coming into contact with the patient, practitioners must wear the correct equipment to ensure they are practising as safely as possible.
Importance of PPE
Anyone who comes into close contact with patients who have tested positive or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 should wear PPE. The type of protective equipment required depends on the level of risk, but gloves and a facemask are recommended to not only protect yourself but also others.
Although the efficacy of face masks against the spread of COVID-19 is unknown, the World Health Organisation has published new guidance on wearing face masks. It is believed that wearing a facemask may reduce exhalation and droplet ejection to prevent the spread of viruses.
The government has released guidelines on the use of PPE by healthcare workers. Some of the guidelines include:
- Staff should be trained on how to use and wear personal protective equipment – video tutorials are available
- Staff should have access to the appropriate PPE
- Gloves and aprons are subject to single-use, whereas surgical masks and eye protection can be used for a session of work
- Hand washing should be practised and extended to exposed forearms
For more information on patient use of protective wear, please see Section 9 of the guidelines or click here for our recommendations.
PPE Supply
Due to new government guidelines, PPE items will be exempt from VAT from May 1st to July 31st 2020. However, protective items are needed now more than ever and the huge global demand means the cost price for all PPE items has inflated.
We are extremely fortunate to have great relationships with PPE manufacturers in China to ensure we have a steady supply of protective equipment. Due to the urgent demand for PPE, we have had to import via air freight which is costly and contributes to the increase in the cost per unit. Despite this, we have decided to sell all PPE items at cost price and swallow the cost of air freight, as we believe this is not a time for profit, but a time to provide critical items in a time of need.
We currently have a limited supply of PPE in stock but are receiving regular deliveries to ensure we can meet demand. Visit our online shop to buy.
If you would like to know more about our current supply or prices, please contact info@phoenixmd.co.uk.
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