Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on female clinicians of the design of face masks used as personal protective equipment.
The National Medical Director and Chief Nursing Officer of NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to National Health Service Chief Executives, Chief Nurses and Medical Directors, emphasising the importance of proper fit testing of disposable sessional personal protective equipment (PPE) face masks (such as FFP3 masks).
The United Kingdom Government and devolved administrations have published clear guidance on appropriate PPE for health and social care workers. It is critical that health and care workers make themselves aware of and follow these procedures, so they do not risk exposing themselves to COVID-19 as they remove PPE.