UK group concerned by NHS worker deaths

The National Health Service advocate group, Doctor's Association UK, said on Saturday it is concerned that more NHS workers have died from COVID-19, than the 19 reported by British Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"We also have concerns that those figures perhaps don't include pharmacists, allied healthcare workers and care home workers, because we've certainly heard stories about them not also having access to PPE (Personal protective equipment)," Dr Jenny Vaughan, the Law and Policy Lead at DAUK, told British broadcaster Sky News.

Vaughan said the association has developed a free NHS PPE app where medical staff can anonymously report shortages of protective outerwear when treating infected patients.

She said there are gaps in the provisions available to protect healthcare workers and that the app will encourage staff to "speak out and put the power in their hands."

Reacting to Hancock's earlier comment that health workers should use PPE "appropriately", Vaughan argued that the guidelines for healthcare workers on how much PPE to use has been "confusing" and healthcare workers are not to blame for shortages.

"What we should be doing at the moment is doing everything we can to support healthcare workers on the frontline, feeling confident to do their job, to save as many lives as possible and to feel protected."

The United Kingdom currently has 74,608 confirmed cases and reported 8,974 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally at 1400 GMT.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.The vast majority of people recover.

(Image Credit: AP)