Amid widespread shortages, social care providers are being promised parity with healthcare when it comes to accessing coronavirus protective equipment such as masks and gloves in critical roles.

The Scottish government says it is working with health boards and local authorities to ensure care workers have the protective equipment they need as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise.

Following a warning from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday that the UK was on the cusp of a ‘very rapid acceleration’ in covid-19 case numbers, officials have written to all health board and local authority chiefs to make them aware of plans ‘to establish a triage centre for action needed around supplies for social care’.

In a letter seen by healthandcare.scot, government officials say that within 48 hours they expect a helpline to go live that local authorities, integration joint boards and social care providers can use to log shortages that cannot be resolved through normal purchasing arrangements, and get help with any supply blockages.

It also says the head of NHS National Services Scotland has given assurances requests from social care providers ‘will be taken on a par’ with supplies for board’s NHS services.

In critical cases, the triage centre will take on distribution of supplies and government expects services to ration supplies to ‘critical frontline staff only’. Some local authorities have already begun centralising their supplies of face screens, gloves and other protective equipment so only senior managers have access and are able to make decisions about allocations.

Guidance published by Health Protection Scotland last week for social or community care and residential settings, emphasised the importance of using personal protective equipment and handwash to slow the spread of the virus, but many are having trouble accessing appropriate equipment.

Authors of the letter add they are ‘encouraged by the recognition that the safety and effectiveness of our social care services is absolutely paramount in our response to the virus and therefore the urgency of mobilising supplies.

‘Notwithstanding that, we must be mindful that the NHS NSS stock is not bottomless, and that requests must be urgent and genuine across the system – whether from NHS services or social care. I trust that you will communicate this message to your colleagues so that together we can ensure supplies go to those who need them most, first.’



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