Hospices in the United Kingdom say that they will run out of personal protective equipments (PPEs) in just a few days. Meanwhile, the ban on guest visits have made patients worry whether they would be facing the end of their lives without their family and friends by their sides.
Like most other things in these times, both are caused by the global pandemic. Guest visits have been banned in many facilities because of the patients’ weak immunities. The lack of mask has been caused by the British National Health Service that gave PPE priorities only to hospitals.
In the UK, around 24,000 patients are under hospice care right now. Compared to last year, the numbers have tripled. Yet in March, the NHS has decided to take hospice facilities out of the priority list for PPEs.
This means that the facilities must now purchase masks at a much higher rate. ITV News has reported that hospices may now have to pay up to 26 times more than hospitals to purchases masks and other PPEs for both patients and their workers.
ITV News also interviewed patients, who fear that they may embark on life’s final journey without getting to bid farewell to their beloved ones. Liz Gilbert, an 81-year-old patient with terminal cancer illustrated this point in an interview.
Gilbert said that although she knows the nurses will be around her, it is still not the same as having your family with you. While she is not afraid of death itself, Gilbert said that she is afraid of dying alone.
CEO of Hospice UK Travis Bleakley told ITV News that the facilities will run out of masks “within days”. Bleakley explained how many facilities have already been forced to ration the equipment, which puts everyone involved at higher risk.
As an alternative to the government, Bleakley said that hospices have inquired the private sector about face masks. To her surprise, the companies asked for £480 ($600) a box. The NHS gets the same box at £18 ($22).
A spokesperson for the British Department of Health and Social Care said that the department is working out ways that they could provide for the hospices, acknowledging the important role they play in Britain’s healthcare system.
All in all, we hope that both this pandemic and shortage can be resolved quickly. Share this post with your friends, and follow us on Facebook for more news like this one.
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