Doctors who die from coronavirus deserve inquests, says NHS frontline worker

NHS doctors who die from coronavirus deserve an inquest, insists Dr Katie Sanderson.

The call comes after significant data was gathered in collaboration with the Doctors Association UK, exposing “very significant gaps” in personal protective equipment provisions for staff fighting the virus on the frontline.

The startling results show 38 per cent of doctors had no eye protection in accordance with Public Health England guidelines, 38 per cent of those who need FFP3 or similar masks do not have access and 47 per cent do not have access to long-sleeved gowns for procedures.

The government has declared 27 deaths of NHS staff from Covid-19, while there have been 125,856 total confirmed cases in the UK and 16,509 fatalities as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Furthermore, Dr Sanderson, a doctor in Acute Medicine at a London hospital, believes it is essential that any fatalities throughout the pandemic among NHS or care staff are thoroughly investigated.

She told Today on BBC Radio 4: “People want the assurance that the death of their colleagues will be properly investigated.

“At first that means being referred to coroners as deaths that are unnatural or caused by employment.”

With more than 1,100 doctors responding to the survey, 60 per cent also confirmed that they had not been fit tested to ensure that the masks would be effective.

Dr Sanderson has also urged the government to address “a huge source of anxiety” for many doctors and their families surrounding financial insecurity as well as immigration status.

“People have called for a universal death and service benefit. All of us are more or less worried about dying as a result of being infected by coronavirus at work,” Mr Sanderson admitted. “People’s families shouldn’t be worried about facing financial hardship if a member of their family dies.

“We know that health care workers come from across the world and they have a whole array of visa situations. If you die serving this country, your family should not face deportation and this country should look after your family.

“That is a huge, huge source of anxiety for many people. I think having robust assurances on these three counts and candour about PPE would make a huge difference to health care professionals.”

In response to the findings, Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, labelled the insufficient amounts of PPE a “disgrace”.

“It’s shocking,” the Labour MP said in response to the data acquired by Dr Sanderson. “The significant gaps doctors are facing in terms of access to PPE. We all knew this, because we’ve seen the anecdotal evidence but to see it outlined and some challenges to policy makers, it brings it home to you just what our NHS and care staff are putting themselves through.

“Frankly It is a disgrace that we’ve got people working on the front line who are not properly protected. A government’s first and foremost responsibility is to protect its citizens and this now is our main priority.”