Will the Welsh Government consider providing gowns for care staff as added protection when they are supporting COVID-positive individuals in the community?
Throughout the pandemic, the supply of PPE to social care has been guided by public health experts. At present the advice of Public Health Wales (PHW) and the joint guidance of the UK’s Chief Medical Officers does not recommend the routine use of gowns by social care workers when supporting individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19.
Enhanced PPE, such as gowns and FFP3 face masks, is only recommended in instances where a member of health or social care staff may be undertaking an Aerosol Generating Procedure, such as intubation. The Welsh Government provides the recommended enhanced PPE to Local Health Boards, which in turn work with social care providers to ensure supplies are made available.
We will continue to monitor the advice from PHW and the Chief Medical Officers and have committed to review the current PPE provision should the recommendations change.