NHS frontline staff asked to treat coronavirus without full protection and to reuse PPE

The government has come under fire after doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak are asked to treat patients without full gowns and to reuse personal protective equipment.

NHS bosses made the request as hospitals came close to running out of protective equipment.

On Friday, Public Health England (PHE) previously stipulated long-sleeved disposable fluid repellent gowns should be worn when treating Covid-19 patients.

But as of Friday, PHE states that if gowns are not available, clinical personnel should wear ‘disposable, non-fluid repellent gowns or coveralls’ or ‘washable surgical gowns’, with aprons.

They are advised to wash their forearms after treating a patient.

At least 50 NHS workers have died from coronavirus.