Officials ordered 400,000 gowns from a private company but made no checks on whether the goods could be exported despite being aware of a restrictions imposed by President Tayyip Erdoğan.

They only contacted the Turkish Government to begin negotiations on Sunday – the day that it had been said that the gowns would land in the UK. The shipment finally landed at RAF Brize Norton on Wednesday, but was not complete.

It comes amid growing anger over the lack of PPE as it emerged that at least 100 health and care workers have lost their lives to Covid-19.

Dr Katie Sanderson, a doctor in Acute Medicine at a London hospital [and DAUK committee member] has called for all medics who lose their lives fighting the virus to be given an inquest as they died in the course of their employment.

A spokesman for the Doctors’ Association UK said it was important the deaths of all healthcare workers were investigated properly either through a coronial process or a public inquiry to ensure that lessons were learned.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, told the daily Downing Street press conference that the numbers of items of PPE needed are “absolutely vast” and in the billions each month.

1. The assurance that the deaths of their colleagues will be properly investigated.
In the first instant that means making sure that they’re all referred to Coroner’s, as deaths that are potentially unnatural, or occur as a result of employment.

2. Universal death in service benefits.
All of us are worried about dying as a result of being infected with coronavirus at work. People’s families shouldn’t be concerned about facing financial hardship if a member of their family,who is a health care worker, dies.

3. Protection for those from other countries.
We know that health care workers come from across the world and they have a whole array of Visa situations. If you die serving this country your family should not face deportation and this country should look after your family. This is a huge huge source of anxiety for many people.

.The call comes after significant data was gathered in collaboration with the Doctors Association UK, exposing “very significant gaps” in personal protective equipment provisions for staff fighting the virus on the frontline.The startling results show 38 per cent of doctors had no eye protection in accordance with Public Health England guidelines, 38 per cent of those who need FFP3 or similar masks do not have access and 47 per cent do not have access to long-sleeved gowns for procedures.

The government has declared 27 deaths of NHS staff from Covid-19, while there have been 125,856 total confirmed cases in the UK and 16,509 fatalities as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Furthermore, Dr Katie Sanderson, a doctor in Acute Medicine at a London hospital [and DAUK committee member] believes it is essential that any fatalities throughout the pandemic among NHS or care staff are thoroughly investigated.

Protect Chief Executive Liz Gardiner said, “Whistleblowing is the best early-warning system in the NHS and now more than ever staff need to feel safe and supported when they speak up and that issues are properly investigated and resolved.

“We want NHS workers who are working under extremely difficult circumstances to feel reassured that they can get independent and confidential advice about whistleblowing by calling Protect.”

Protect handles around 3,000 cases each year through its free, confidential Advice Line. In addition, it trains businesses and organisations on best practice speak up arrangements.

If an NHS worker has a whistleblowing concern, NHS staff can raise the matter internally at the Trust, speak to their Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (England only), or call the NHS Whistleblowing Advice Line SpeakUp for signposting information. For NHS workers in Scotland, they can call the Alert and Advice Line. For strategic advice on how and where they can raise their concerns further, in addition to legal advice as to what their rights are in doing so, they can call the Protect Advice Line.

However, charity Protect says it has been approached by some NHS staff with concerns.

“Some NHS staff have told us they do not feel safe speaking up within their Trust and are not aware of what support channels exist. Our service at Protect is unique – we offer advice on how to raise concerns effectively, as well as explaining whistleblowers’ legal rights” said Protect’s Chief Executive Liz Gardiner.

Dr Jenny Vaughan, Learn Not Blame Lead, at Doctors Association UK, said, “Sadly the Doctors’ Association UK has been approached by many doctors who have been disciplined for raising concerns about lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and been told not to speak to the press. Patient safety is never best served by driving staff concerns underground. Bullying of staff when they speak out about safety is completely unacceptable.”

She added, “Doctors and nurses on the frontline have a right to speak out if they or their families or patients could be at risk. Our health service, both private and public, will only benefit if we learn from each other’s experience and we have a Learn Not Blame culture.”

Protect has the support of a number of lawyers who have agreed to give further support to health and social care workers during the crisis.

Protect Chief Executive Liz Gardiner added, “We hope that employers will listen-up when concerns are raised – but we’re grateful to the many lawyers in our legal support network who have kindly agreed to help, including barristers Daniel Stilitz QC, Mukhtiar Singh, and Joseph England and solicitors Paul Daniels at Keystone Law, Leigh Day Solicitors and Slater & Gordon lawyers – but please call Protect in the first instance”.

If further law firms or Chambers wished to lend their support and advice during the Covid 19 crisis, Protect are co-ordinating whistleblowing support to key workers should it be needed.

Doctor Katie Sanderson, who works in acute medicine [and is a DAUK committee member] said “Healthcare workers are practising in very challenging conditions. It is crucial that everybody working in the NHS feels able to voice concerns openly, and that they are aware of the appropriate channels to do so. It is important that doctors and others are aware that free, high quality legal advice is available if they need it.”

Support for whistleblowing doctors:

ProtectProtect Advice Line – Tel: 020 3117 2520
Email whistle@protect-advice.org.uk

SpeakUp
NHS Whistleblowing Advice Line SpeakUp: 08000 724 725.

Alert & Advice Line – NHS ScotlandTel: 0800 0086112
Email: alertline@protect-advice.org.uk