Protective items being delivered to Northwick Park but no details on testing for staff

The Harrow West MP used the final Prime Minister’s Questions before the Easter to call on the Prime Minister to ensure the supply of vital Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers in Northwick Park Hospital.

Mr Thomas took the opportunity to raise the question in the PMQs saying ““the Prime Minister will understand that there is considerable concern about the situation at Northwick Park Hospital, which serves my constituents and many others, given the critical incident there last week and, tragically, that it has recorded one of the highest levels of deaths so far.

Will he therefore tell the House when he expects the staff at the hospital to have access to the high-grade personal protection equipment they need, and, crucially, to testing equipment as and when they need it in order to keep them safe, to prevent the risk of cross-infection and to keep their loved ones safe?”

The Prime Minister responded “The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise the issue of Northwick Park. It has had a consignment in the last few days, and we will keep those supplies coming.”

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West said:

“This response will be deeply concerning for many healthcare workers on the front-line in Northwick Park Hospital. The Prime Minister is not providing the assurances necessary to keep staff, their patients and their families safe. If we are going arrive at the promised 250,000 tests a day, we are going to need to start with those working on the front-line.”

Staff at Northwick Park continue to describe a sense of paranoia within the hospital, as, despite being exposed to the virus for a long amount of time, workers are not being tested.

A worker described: “I’m told to go home, self-isolate and call 111, who will take it from there like every other patient.”

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