An urgent call has gone out for more surgical gowns to be provided for frontline staff battling Covid-19 at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Staff have reported a shortage of Level 3 and Level 4 gowns.
The gowns are long-sleeved, cuffed PPE which are fluid resistant and should reach to the wearer’s mid calf.
Such gowns are worn by staff providing care to Covid-19 patients in clinical areas.
The local call comes as the government has so far ordered more than €200 million in PPE – what in normal times would be a 13 year supply of PPE, according to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Fundraising is underway by Avolon, an Irish aircraft leasing company, to charter another cargo flight to China to bring more PPE and other vital medical equipment to Ireland following another large consignment this week.
Tweeting today, the Taoiseach said: “All assistance from private sector and general public is welcome. We’d rather be using it than looking for it. And, when its all over we can build a stockpile and help out other countries in need too.”
Meanwhile, businesses are invited to make offers to provide PPE via the government COVID-19 database on: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/e15fbc-how-business-can-help-with-supplies-and-services-to-respond-to-covid/
