Seven days in medicine: 20-26 May 2020
BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2074 (Published 28 May 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;369:m2074
Covid-19
Anaesthetists lack faith in resuming non-covid services
Over a third (34%) of UK anaesthetists had low confidence in their hospitals’ preparedness for restoring non-covid-19 NHS services, in a poll by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The survey also highlighted ongoing concern around sustainable access to personal protective equipment (PPE), anaesthetic drugs, and testing. The college surveyed its members over a 24 hour period on 13-14 May. It received around 1500 responses, which it said highlighted the need for “a measured approach” to restoring non-covid-19 NHS services in a safe and sustainable way.
Doctors take Hancock to court over PPE
Two NHS doctors will go ahead with a High Court legal challenge against Matt Hancock, health and social care secretary for England, over inadequate supplies of PPE to frontline staff during the covid-19 pandemic. Meenal Viz and Nishant Joshi are seeking a judicial review over government guidance reducing the requirement to wear PPE and allowing for its re-use in some cases. The pair argue that this goes against guidance from the World Health Organization and breaches the human rights of health and social care workers, many of whom have died in the pandemic.
Cycle of lockdown and relaxation may be effective
An alternating cycle of 50 days of lockdown followed by 30 days of easing could be effective in reducing deaths and …
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