News from Dr Onkar Sahota: Don’t put Female Doctors and Nurses at greater risk

Don’t put Female Doctors and Nurses at greater risk with inappropriate Personal Protective Equipment – Dr Onkar Sahota AM

Female health workers need appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), the Minister for Women and Equalities has been told. With women making up three-quarters of NHS staff, Labour’s London Assembly Health Spokesperson, Dr Onkar Sahota, has written to Liz Truss to ask whether this has been accounted for when sourcing PPE. This comes after criticism from public bodies that women on the frontline are being inadequately protected, with PPE often designed to the size and shape of male bodies. Dr Onkar Sahota AM said it is “completely unfair” to ask women health staff to take on greater risk because of inappropriate PPE.

Dr Sahota’s letter to the Minister comes after comments she made when appearing before the Women and Equalities Select Committee last week. In response to a question from Nicola Richards MP, Ms Truss commented, “it’s the same protection that is required regardless of what gender you are.” However, Dr Sahota urged the Minister to clarify her comments following concerns from interest groups.

The British Medical Association (BMA), and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), have recently spoken out about the issue of PPE for women health workers. The BMA recently reported that “female doctors and other NHS staff are having issues with filtering face-piece masks and other PPE not being available in smaller sizes as they tend to be designed to the size and shape of male bodies.” Meanwhile, the RCN say “one-size-fits-all protective equipment has been a problem for frontline healthcare workers who have to wear this specialist life-saving equipment for up to 12 hours at a time.”

Writing to the Minister, Dr Sahota warns against gender-blind design, citing research from the Trades Union Council (TUC) which shows that nearly two-fifths of women workers found ill-fitting equipment hampered their work. He also points to the tragic case of a female police officer who lost her life because the inadequate fitting of her stab vest had required its removal whilst breaking down a door.

The Equalities Act 2010 states that a person must be treated no less favourable on the basis of gender.

Labour’s London Assembly Health Spokesperson, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, said:

“Women account for the majority of health staff, and they’re already risking their own health every day whilst working on the frontline to defeat the Coronavirus. If we don’t give them appropriate PPE, we’re asking them to take on an even greater risk, and that’s completely unfair.

“The Government haven’t been forthcoming about how they’re ensuring women working in the NHS and other key services are getting the appropriate PPE. That’s why I’m asking for clarity from the Minister.

“Right now, female health workers need to be wearing PPE more often, and for longer, than usual, so this is an issue we can’t see swept under the carpet. The Equalities Act is very clear that no person must be treated less favourably on the basis of their agenda, and the Government are no exception when it comes to adhering to the law.”

ENDS