Atherstone GPs thank Facebook for leading surgery to a supply trail of 'life-saving' protective clothing in fight against Covid-19

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM HELPED TOWN DOCTORS FIND VOLUNTEER MINI ARMY OF SEAMSTRESSES TO MAKE 'SCRUBS FOR HOT HUBS'

SOCIAL media has won special praise from Atherstone GPs in answering a cry for help to make scrubs for local "hot hubs" being rolled out across the country in the coming weeks as the battle intensifies against coronavirus.

An appeal by Atherstone Surgery on Facebook resulted in seamstresses across the district offering to "run up" a supply of specialist garments from their front rooms.

The Ratcliffe Road medical practice confirmed to Nub News today that a global deficiency in equipment medics and carers need to protect themselves against Covid-19 has led to a "shortfall in some supplies" in North Warwickshire, along with the rest of the UK.

It went in search of specially-made tops and loose-fitting trousers to use when patients are needed to be seen by a GP "only as an absolute necessity" in a face-to-face consultation.

The Atherstone surgery found a new Facebook group set up last week by 29-year-old nurse and self-taught seamstress Ashleigh Lindsdell called For The Love Of Scrubs.

She originally made an appeal for homemade scrubs and within two days of setting up the group, an army of volunteers had made 260 sets for their local hospitals.

Mrs Lindsdell, a nurse at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, explained healthcare workers can get through more than 10 sets of scrubs per shift, especially those working in "covid zones" who have to change more than usual to avoid spreading the virus.

She said she hoped by raising awareness it will be possible to get materials and stock out to people who are "desperate to help but otherwise unable".

The Atherstone surgery tapped into the success of the social media platform and found local people ready and willing to make, among other things, tunic tops and tie-back hats.

One posted on the For The Love Of Scrubs: "When my fabric comes I can crack on with what's needed", while another asked: "How many and what sizes are you looking for?"

The shortfall in PPE means GPs are currently having to made do with plastic aprons which "don't come anywhere near to covering you".

What is needed is something that is easy to wash on a hot temperature, a spokeswoman for the surgery told Nub News.

She added: "We are trying to get as many scrubs as possible made for the surgery. They are basically a top garment and loose trousers, a little bit like pyjamas.

"We'd like to personally thanks those ladies who are already making scrubs as a result of going to the social media page.

"And we'd like to thank Facebook for being such a great benefit in this instance."

The surgery is hoping there may be more seamstresses and tailors willing to lend a hand and make more scrubs.

Appealing through Nub News, the spokeswoman said anyone thinking of making them should join the Facebook page For The Love Of Scrubs. It asks not to call the surgery over making the garments – but to specifically go through the Facebook page. Click here for the page.

The spokesman went on: "Once made, we would ask the dressmakers to call the surgery to let us know about delivery."

The scrubs will be used for a possible new arrangement where hot hubs may be set up in two or three locations in North Warwickshire allowing a team of doctors to conduct face-to-face consultations as part of a nationwide operation.

The hubs will be specifically "where the patient has already been fully triaged beforehand and only if the GP deems it absolutely necessary."

Doctors are currently conducting remote consulting on a system called accuRx, which works in the same way as Facetime on mobile devices.

Nub News revealed earlier this month the surgery was the first place in Atherstone to confirm a case of coronavirus – the outbreak forcing GPs Scott Thomson and Rachael Davies plus a female administrator to self-isolate.

The outbreak was among the first 300 to be recorded in the UK – a figure that only three weeks later stands at 25,150. There have been 1,841 known deaths in hospitals, at home and in residential care.

It is understood Public Health England is working on updating its guidance on PPE use with results expected to be published later this week.

The current guidance says GPs should wear PPE within one metre of patients with possible or confirmed Covid-19 – but this only applies to patients who are symptomatic and practice doctors are not advised to wear the equipment for asymptomatic patient.

The British Medical Association has called for clarity from ministers about what risks doctors should not have to take if they do not have adequate PPE while shortages in supplies of protective equipment led a desperate Health Care Supply Association chief officer Alan Hoskins to tweet: "God help us all".

Protective gowns for frontline staff were not included in the national pandemic stockpile of PPE, it has been claimed.

The HCSA, which represents procurement and supply professionals within the healthcare sector in the UK, warned of "serious supply issues" in hospitals.

On Sunday, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the Government "cannot and should not ask people to be on the frontline without the right protective equipment".

Downing Street said that millions of items of personal protective equipment were delivered to NHS trusts on Monday, with the army helping to ensure supplies reach frontline workers.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing on Tuesday that yesterday's deliveries of PPE included more than 2.5 million aprons, 870,000 eye protectors, 218,000 respiratory masks – they are FFP2 and FFP3 masks – one million surgical masks and 11 million gloves.

He added: "The full weight of Government is behind the PPE efforts, with PPE being sent out 24 hours a day and the army helping with deliveries."

Meanwhile manufacturers have rallied to help frontline NHS workers by making new equipment.

A community of 3D printer owners has joined forces to make protective face masks.