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- Page navigation anchor for Was enough, and is enough, being done to protect the primary care workforce from COVID-19?Was enough, and is enough, being done to protect the primary care workforce from COVID-19?
Kendrick et al1 discuss the missed opportunities to protect the primary care workforce from exposure to SARS-CoV-2; such as PPE shortages and Public Health England (PHE) following WHO interim guidance which advocated that healthcare workers (HCWs) use fluid resistant surgical masks (FRSM); filtering facepiece respirators (FFP) being restricted to HCWs performing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). RCGP guidance issued in March 2020 reflects the PHE position and states ‘droplet and faecal spread seem to be the primary forms of transmission of coronaviruses’ and that it is not anticipated that FFPs ‘will be needed in most general practice situations’.2 However, FRSM only protect against splashes or large droplets of body fluids; unlike FFP, they do not prevent inhalation of aerosols [3]. Kendrick and others note current evidence that, like other respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by aerosols1,4 and over distances exceeding 2 m; the SARS-CoV-2 therein remaining infectious for hours.3
An editorial published in an occupational medicine journal supports the view that: a) underestimating the risk of aerosol transmission; and b) inadequate supplies of FFPs left many HCWs inadequately protected against inhaling aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2.3. Reviewed studies demonstrated that a) hospital patients, visitors and HCWs were at increased risk of infection; 2) sero...
Competing Interests: Co-author of editorial cites as reference 3 - Page navigation anchor for A medical student perspective on PPE provisions in primary careA medical student perspective on PPE provisions in primary care
I read this article with great interest. As a medical student whose entire clinical placement experience has spanned the steady transition into the COVID-19 era of healthcare, I have witnessed the gradual changes in PPE provision as the public health risk has risen across both primary and secondary care.
I have been surprised to see regional variations (e.g., the use of FFP3 masks) across primary care practices and even within practices disparities exist amongst practitioners in how to best mitigate their personal and public health risk. This contrasted with my experiences in secondary care where there appeared greater uniformity in guidelines. This disparity may reflect the under-representation of practising GPs on any Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) committee, propagating a lack of consistent guidance surrounding PPE provisions in primary care. 1,2
The BMA has made it clear students should not have to put their health at risk during clinical placements.3 As a temporary member of the primary care workforce, I did not personally encounter any scarcity in PPE during my attachment, however I was interested to hear from my colleagues surrounding variability of PPE provisions across general practices.
Lack of guidance and confusion during placements may result in a negative experience of primary care for medical students during already limited primary care attachment. Given the importance of an authentic clin...
Competing Interests: None declared.