Patient safety threatened by NHS apron shortage
2 min read
A shortage of aprons in the NHS is forcing staff to waste time searching for suitable replacements, potentially putting patients at risk.
A crackdown on pollution by the Chinese government has led to the closure of a factory owned by one of the NHS’s suppliers, HPC.
NHS workers have told the Health Service Journal that poor quality replacements are putting patients and staff at risk.
‘This issue has been going on for the last four to five months, and the implications have been widespread and serious’ one employee said.
‘Whether it’s someone doing procedures or nursing staff providing patient care, they can’t afford to be pulling torn aprons off or looking for a right sized one
The NHS buys around 1.75 million aprons every week, and the health service has been forced to dip into emergency stocks to make up for the shortfall.
We are pleased that emergency stocks have been released and we look forward to seeing this better quality product in use in the NHS’ a spokesman for the Health Care Supply Association, which represents NHS procurement staff, told The Times.
‘Plastic aprons are a basic consumable product and supply challenges show how important it is in a global market to get these things right.
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