Frontline Queensland doctors don’t have enough marks, protective gear

The president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland says a new survey reveals the anxiety of our frontline doctors over the lack of crucial masks and protective equipment as they face the coronavirus pandemic. READ WHAT THEY SAID.

QUEENSLAND doctors say they do not have the protective gear they need to keep them safe against the deadly coronavirus, a shock survey shows.

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More than 70 per cent of local doctors at the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis do not have sufficient Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and some medical facilities have resorted to making their own hand sanitiser, according to the Australian Medical Association Queensland survey.

AMAQ President Dr Dilip Dhupelia.

AMAQ President Dr Dilip Dhupelia said the online survey revealed 84 per cent of doctors were not confident they could access sufficient and appropriate PPE as they continued to work on the COVID-19 frontline and more than 53 per cent had paid for their own masks and other PPE for themselves and staff.

Dr Dhupelia said more than 625 doctors had responded to the survey which was posted at 4pm on Monday.

“These are both private and public doctors as well as those working in GP clinics in the community – the very people who are putting their own safety on the line to care for and treat Queenslanders.

“While we acknowledge that the COVID-19 crisis has entered our lives very quickly, clear guidance on where and when and how much PPE is available is crucial for frontline doctors and nurses.”

One GP wrote in the survey: “We are nearly out of surgical masks (which is all the PPE we have) and requests for supply have been declined. We are also out of hand sanitiser and making our own (with limited success).”

Another said: “There’s a lot of anxiety in my workplace (operating theatres) about PPE supply. Also concerns that management may not be prioritising PPE supply. I think if staff had better communication about PPE supply, it would reduce anxiety levels and improve trust.”

Dr Dhupelia said Queensland Health repeatedly assured AMA it had a stockpile of PPE and no healthcare workers would be put at risk when treating patients with COVID-19.

But one frontline doctor wrote: “It is painful to see and hear officials talk about PPE supply not being an issue, while on the frontline in my Emergency Department, we are being told to wear the same mask for several shifts in a row (providing not high-risk patients) in order to preserve PPE.”

“The Government needs to come clean to Queensland’s health workers,” Dr Dhupelia said. “They have every right to expect and receive up-to-date, consistent and clear information about where and when they can access the protective equipment required to do their jobs safely.

“Transparent communication about PPE supply and distribution is essential to instil confidence and reduce anxiety to our essential front line doctors and nurses.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young. Picture Shae Beplate

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young described the state’s PPE stockpile, which is used for public hospitals, as “excellent”. Dr Young said general practitioners were supplied from the Federal Government’s national stockpile.

Queensland Health Director-General John Wakefield yesterday assured staff there were “healthy supplies” of PPE with stock supplies monitored daily.

AMAQ WISHLIST

1. Information overload

There is an urgent need for consistent, succinct and up-to-date communication from a single, trusted source to both the community and healthcare workers.

2. Safety first

The supply and distribution of personal protection equipment (PPE) is a critical issue for the medical profession. PPE supply must be at the heart of all health sector planning.

3. Telehealth

Doctors want Medicare rebates for all telehealth consultations as an affordable, safe means for people to receive health care. The Government needs to clearly communicate how patients can access telehealth services.

4. Private Hospitals to free up public hospital beds to cope with COVID-19

A partnership to make 34,000 extra beds available for the fight against COVID-19. The private sector’s role in relieving strain has to be clarified.

5. Financial support for practices

Federal and State governments, the Australian Taxation Office, and the banking sector have put out a number of measures to provide financial support to businesses. How do medical professionals access the help they need?

Originally published as Frontline Queensland doctors don’t have enough marks, protective gear