DOCTORS are being warned by unions not to give CPR to Covid-19 patients unless they are wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE).
It goes against guidance from Public Health England (PHE), which suggests chest compressions can be given with a lower grade of PPE.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has called on Public Health England to change advice, claiming it forces doctors into an "awful ethical dilemma".
According to the Telegraph, the union’s president fears the guidance is being influenced by current PPE shortages.
CONFLICTING GUIDANCE
The differing guidance comes down to whether chest compressions are considered an “aerosol-generating procedure” or AGP.
An AGP is where a patient is exhaling infectious droplets into the air.
To perform one, medics need the highest level of PPE, including a full body coverall gown and filtering face mask.
Recent guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK, which is usually the lead authority in such matters, does consider CPR an AGP.
Public Health England's guidance, however, does not.
In hospitals, CPR does not include mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which
is carried out via a manual ventilator.
But Dr Claudia Paoloni, the president of the HCSA, said medics tending to these patients are still at risk.
'ETHICAL DILEMMA'
She told the Telegraph: “If you have a doctor who has their own comorbidity, say they have asthma, they now have to make a decision ‘do I put myself in additional risk by doing this’. It is a really awful ethical dilemma.”
Dr Paoloni added that patients who regained consciousness during CPR often came round coughing and spluttering, putting medics at further risk.
PHE said its guidance was based on a review by the Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag).
Dr Nick Phin, Covid-19 incident director at PHE, said: “The safety of those working on the front line in health and social care is our number one priority.
"Based on the Nervtag evidence review and consensus statement, chest compressions will not be added to the list of aerosol-generating procedures.
“The chief medical officers of the four nations, the medical director of NHS England, and PHE are in agreement that standard PPE provides sufficient protection against transmission of Covid-19 when performing CPR.”
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers. The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM. No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here: www.thesun.co.uk/whocareswinsappeal.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures – and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – find out more.
Source: Read Full Article