Six in 10 NHS doctors facing shortage of scrubs, shows UK survey

Dozens of hospitals are running short of scrubs in the latest problem to hit the NHS over the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus pandemic.

The shortages are revealed in a survey of UK doctors undertaken by the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), which found that 61% said that the hospital where they worked was facing a shortage of scrubs.

In recent months, many more NHS staff have begun wearing scrubs, which are usually used mainly by surgical staff, to protect themselves against COVID-19. The prevalence of coronavirus in hospitals has prompted many to switch from wearing their own clothes at work to using scrubs, and handing them in to be washed at the end of their shift. However, the big increase in demand for scrubs from doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists has left many hospitals unable to keep up and also put unprecedented pressure on hospital cleaning services.

Some staff have even worn pyjamas intended for patients when scrubs have run out.

“Protective clothing must be considered to be at a par with other PPE by Public Health England and must be provided to staff by the NHS," said said Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden, the president of the DAUK.

She added: “A failure to adequately supply scrubs to staff may risk further community spread of Covid-19.”

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Source: The Guardian, 15 June 2020