In a recent survey of frontline NHS staff by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), more than 75 percent of BAME doctors have testified that they are afraid of getting exposed to the coronavirus while on duty. Tanzia Haq reports
The doctors claim that PPE is hard for them to access and the lengthy virus testing periods have both compounded their fear that they are more likely to contract the disease. The RCP survey further revealed that 48% of all respondents were worried about their risk of exposure, and 76% among BAME doctors.
Despite world leaders meeting and proposing billion-dollar research funds for finding antidotes to coronavirus, of which Boris Johnson is a significant part, the situation for NHS staff on the ground are most dire.
Prof Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, said: “Things are nowhere near what we need…people assume everyone’s feeling OK on the frontline and that morale is good, but the survey shows people are worried about it all. The PPE remains a significant issue. Testing has gotten better, there are still concerns, particularly around delays in getting the results back.”
BAME doctors and medical staff have been infected in much higher numbers, this was evident even before the survey results came out. Currently, NHS directives have instructed BAME staff be removed from frontline duties. But this also comes in light of the fact that one-third of doctors are currently at home with illness. The survey results showed that almost 300 doctors had confirmed cases of infection and 39% reported suspicious symptoms.