# 1190
Granted, there is a good deal of breathless hyperbole in this article in The Sun, but then as a tabloid, they aren't generally known for being representative of traditional British reserve.
The UK, which in some areas of pandemic preparation appear to be far ahead of other countries, has yet to procure a central stockpile of masks for NHS (National Health Service) workers. As this article points out, individual hospitals have some stockpiles, although no quantities are given.
'NHS risk as epidemic looms'
By GRAEME WILSON
Deputy Political EditorPublished: Today
BRITAIN is dangerously exposed to a global flu pandemic because ministers have not bought life-saving face masks for NHS staff, it was claimed last night.
The Government has not acted despite pledging to start buying them for doctors and nurses TWO YEARS ago.
Meanwhile countries like America, Australia and France have stockpiled tens of millions.
The Tories last night accused ministers of taking risks with the lives of thousands of health workers.
Experts fear a deadly worldwide outbreak of influenza is imminent.
With bird flu a growing threat, they say there is up to a 60 per cent chance of a pandemic within the next five years.
The Department of Health has said a global outbreak could lead to between 50,000 and 750,000 people dying in this country.
Masks are vital in protecting doctors and nurses treating flu victims – and preventing it spreading between patients.
In 2005, then Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt told MPs she was “taking steps” to make sure there were enough masks for the NHS.
Last year the Government said it was still considering how to buy and stockpile them. But health minister Dawn Primarolo admitted recently: “No decision has been taken whether to procure and stockpile face masks centrally.”
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the US has stockpiled at least 152million masks, Australia has 42million and France has ordered 200million.
Mr Lansley said he was alarmed that ministers had failed to act.
He added: “Other countries have millions of masks but we haven’t anything like enough to cope with a pandemic. After two years of delays, ministers need to take decisions now.
“This kind of bureaucratic delay and indecision is unacceptable. It is vital our doctors and nurses have enough face masks if there is a flu pandemic. Ministers must not take risks with people’s lives.”
The Department of Health dismissed the criticism last night. A spokesman said: “NHS hospitals around the country already have a supply of protective equipment. The department is considering whether to centrally purchase and stockpile additional supplies of respirators and face masks for health workers. A decision will be reached as soon as possible.”
While other countries, like the United States, have stockpiled millions of masks, even their supplies appear to be woefully inadequate.
Assuming we have 8 million healthcare workers and emergency personnel, and that at best an N95 respirator might be worn for 6 hours (more likely 4), each worker would need at least two per 12 hour shift. That's 16 million masks a day.
A pandemic wave is expected to last 90 days, or more. That would mean United States front line personnel would need 1.44 Billion masks, just for the first wave.
The Federal government has stockpiled 1/10th as many. Of course, local hospitals and ambulances are stockpiling, too. But probably nowhere near the 1 Billion masks that would be needed during the first 90 days.
And as far as a 2nd or 3rd wave are concerned, the prospects of resupplying in between waves aren't particularly good.
Masks, gloves, and gowns are going to be the only protection most HCW's (health care workers) will have. How protective they will be is an open question. Already they've been told not to expect prophylactic anti-virals. All of these items will be in short supply early on in a pandemic.
We don't ask firefighters to run into burning buildings without bunker gear, it is hard to believe we will expect HCW's to work without basic PPE's (Personal Protective Equipment). Yet, the alternative when we run out is to abandon patients.
A tough call, because either way, someone is going to die. Perhaps a lot of someone's.
Stockpiling PPE's is expensive. Storing them in bulk can be problematic.
As difficult as it might seem, however, stockpiling PPE's is a cheaper alternative than losing a good many healthcare workers unnecessarily during a pandemic.
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