Hailsham care service raises concerns about PPE supplies

Jackie Reed, of Apex Prime Care, said suppliers are continuously out of stock and they are working with only days’ worth of aprons and masks during the coronavirus crisis.

She said, “People are going to have to cut a hole in a bin liner. We are in the year 2020, how can this be happening?

“If we don’t have the supplies there could be some staff who would refuse to work, but could you blame them?

“Every carer I have got has about three days’ worth of aprons. It’s quite scary.”

Appeal for essential PPE to protect frontline workers in Sussex

Hailsham Apex Prime Care employs 75 staff who visit around 150 people’s homes to provide care services.

Workers wear full PPE for symptomatic clients and those with confirmed COVID-19.

They get through around 2,500 aprons a week, Jackie says, and supplies are getting low.

She said, “All around it’s very limited. There needs to be more supplies coming in and people need to stop putting the cost up.”

When they can get a hold of the essential items, she says prices are rising rapidly.

For example, they used to be able to buy 1,000 for £10. But now, she says, “They want £150 for that now. People need to stop making extra money out of a crisis.”

Fortunately, they have to date received 150 visors from a local PPE-making group, which Jackie called ‘brilliant’.

Reflecting on the current situation, she said, “Everyone’s pulling together, but we have got carers that are concerned and scared.

“We are going from house to house, between 7am-10pm. Some people are visiting 16 clients in a day.

“They are having to go home and will have been caring for clients with covid.

“Community carers seem to get missed a bit. One of our carers used to walk 15 miles a day to get to her appointments as she had no car.

“They work blooming hard. They don’t stop.”

Department for Health response

Responding to these concerns, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said, “We are working around the clock to ensure PPE is delivered as quickly as possible to those on the frontline during this global pandemic for as long as it is required.

“We have delivered more than one billion items since the outbreak began, including to care homes, and there is a 24 hour NHS-run helpline where NHS and social care workers can call to report shortages in supply.

“We have also increased our testing capacity so any care worker who needs a test can get one.”

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