Merseyside Police have asked for witnesses/information after Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) intended for frontline NHS staff were stolen from a parked NHS vehicle.
A spokesperson for the force confirmed that at some point between 22:30 hours on 31st March and 05:45 hours on 1st April, a thief smashed the window of an NHS work van that was parked on Greenham Avenue in Kirkby.
Face masks and gloves were stolen from the vehicle.
Chief Inspector Phil Mullally said:
“This shows a complete lack of empathy towards our emergency service colleagues who are working tirelessly to protect the wider community.
“This equipment is vital in allowing NHS staff to complete their job and in the current climate where we are supposed to be supporting each other and working together, it is upsetting to see this sort of crime has taken place.
“Help us find the person/s responsible.”
Police have asked that if you see someone selling these items in or around Kirkby or if you know anything about this incident, then to get in touch with Merseyside Police via 101 quoting reference: 20000193044.
Police have asked that if you see someone selling these items in or around Kirkby or if you know anything about this incident, then to get in touch with Merseyside Police via 101 quoting reference: 20000193044.
Although the government has distributed millions of pieces of PPE around the country, many healthcare professionals have said that the PPE they now have is not the correct equipment which they require to keep them safe when coming into direct contact with patients who have COVID-19.
Paramedics and EMTs/ECAs etc. are being sent to critically ill patients who could have COVID-19 with just a paper mask, nitrile gloves and a disposable apron.
The World Health Organisation recommends that a medical mask, gown, gloves and eye protection (goggles or face shield) be worn by healthcare professionals when ‘providing direct care to COVID19 patients’
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What’s the point? You know that all they’ll get is a slapped wrist and there’s talk of letting prisoners out earlier because of corona virus. Leave them in, we don’t want to catch it.