Concerns over lack of PPE in Omagh Primary Care Complex

DOCTORS at the Omagh Primary Care Complex have expressed serious concerns that the levels of personal protective equipment available to them have remained limited despite repeated appeals and requests for more.

The supply of enough Personal Protection Equipment has remained one of the key concerns despite the arrival of millions of items of PPE for the north several weeks ago.

The General Practitioners say that they have only been supplied with limited and inadequate stocks, and that the situation is unacceptable and placing patients, staff and their families at increased risk.

They have urged the local community and local politicians, including Assembly members and MPs to demand adequate supplies for doctors, practise and community nurses and other members of the primary care team.

“We are taking this opportunity to express our concerns with the limited supply of PPE which has been provided by the Department of Health to our GP practises,” they said.

“This has been minimal and far below the level required to ensure the continuing safety of staff and patients. Repeated appeals and requests to the Department of Health for more PPE have been sent, however practises have only been supplied with limited and inadequate stocks.

“We endeavour at all times to provide a safe, efficient and full service and to maintain the maximum protection to both our patients and staff. Without these (community contributions of PPE) this would have proved extremely difficult.”

The four practises which are based at the Primary Care Complex have expressed their ‘deepest gratitude to the local community, businesses large and small, voluntary and community organisations and local schools who have helped them with donations.

They have also thanked the community for continued social distancing which they say has prevented the spread of the COVID-19 virus, minimised hospital admissions and ultimately saved many lives.

The Department of Health said that all GP practises in the north are able to order replenishment supplies of PPE items recommending in current guidance for use during direct patient care of possible or confirmed COVD-19 cases in the setting of primary care, in an individual’s own home or in a community home.

“This PPE is ordered from the BSO Procurement and Logistics Service and then delivered to practises in a timely fashion,” they added.