Site icon Rapid Telecast

Paramedic denied face mask before dying from Covid on 52nd birthday

Paramedic denied face mask before dying from Covid on 52nd birthday

A frontline health worker who died after catching Covid was told he did not need to wear a mask while working at the start of the pandemic, an inquest has heard.   Peter Hart died on his 52nd birthday in East Surrey Hospital after contracting the virus. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death began at Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking on Monday (September 12.)  Pictured: Peter Hart  Credit: Jo de Banzie/SurreyLive

Peter Hart died from Covid on his 52nd birthday (Picture: SurreyLive)

A paramedic was not given a face mask before he died from Covid, an inquest has heard, prompting a coroner to question NHS guidance.

Peter Hart died on his 52nd birthday on May 12, 2020, having fallen ill the previous month. He was likely infected during a shift at East Surrey Hospital.

At the time, only staff on Covid ‘red wards’ got masks despite World Health Organization warnings of how easily the airborne virus could spread.

And coroner Dr Karen Henderson said patients then suspected to have Covid ‘were not expected to wear masks. This is in effect a perfect storm’.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes after catching Covid, she added: ‘It is difficult to comprehend why the national guidance said PPE (personal protective equipment) did not need to be used for all patients and healthcare workers at the earliest opportunity.’

The inquest is among the first into the deaths of more than 2,500 NHS and social care workers thought to have been victims of the virus up to February this year.

At the time, only hospital staff in ‘red zones’ got masks (Picture: AP)

Former health secretary Matt Hancock has claimed there was never a shortage of PPE in the NHS during the pandemic.

But critics say a dire lack of gear was behind the decision to limit top-grade protection to medics who were working with known Covid patients.

A public inquiry into the handling of the crisis will begin next year.

Father-of-three Mr Hart’s widow Helen, 54, said he gave up a career as a management consultant to become a paramedic before moving to A&E.

She added: ‘Pete retrained to do a job he absolutely loved and he paid for it with his life.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our  Twitter, & Facebook

We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.

For all the latest Covid-19 News Click Here 

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Rapidtelecast.com is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – abuse@rapidtelecast.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
Exit mobile version