Fear On Front Line

Medics warn they don’t have the right kit to keep them safe NHS staff are ‘being used like cannon fodder & some will die’

- Pippa Crerar, Martin Fricker And Matthew Young

Doctors warn many NHS staff don’t have adequate kit to protect them as they fight the outbreak.

The British Medical Association has written to the Government saying that delays are putting medics, their families and their communities at risk.

It comes amid fears the NHS will be completely overwhelmed by the crisis.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, who chairs the BMA, said doctors feel “expendable”.

He added he is “deeply disappointed” that promises to provide testing and equipment had not yet been kept.

Dr Nagpaul said: “Every day that goes by is resulting in increased shortages of frontline staff.”

Hospitals have allegedly rationed protective equipment so staff can only use the most effective kit when putting Covid-19 patients on ventilators.

Dr Rinesh Parmar, chairman of the Doctors’ Association UK, said many of his colleagues feel like “cannon fodder” as they were being sent in to tackle the virus without the correct equipment.

He added: “We’ve had doctors tell us that they feel like lambs to the slaughter... GPs tell us they feel absolutely abandoned. We must really stress with the Prime Minister that we protect the front line now.”

Medics say many colleagues will fall ill and could die because of the chronic shortage of protective equipment.

Among the NHS staff who have a lready been hit is a 36-year-old nurse who was last night fighting for life.

Mum-of-three Areema Nasreen was in intensive care being treated by her colleagues at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Her sister Kazeema said: “She is normally fit and healthy. People are not taking this seriously enough.”

A doctor, 52, was yesterday on life support after contracting the disease.