Frontline staff in Birmingham left with no protective goggles

The news comes after it was revealed Birmingham City Council was sent 16,000 out-of-date face masks, described as “outrageous” by council leader Ian Ward.

The “Tiger eye protectors” were provided from the Government’s stockpile of PPE built up in 2009 to prepare for a future influenza pandemic, and were delivered to local authorities and health trusts.

The city council received 23,000 pairs of goggles and had already issued them to key workers.

But the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was withdrawing the goggles following a retesting which reportedly showed they provided insufficient protection.

A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council has confirmed this has left the council with no protective goggles for frontline staff.

A DHSC spokesperson has said replacement eye protection should be requested from the National Supply Disruption Line.

In addition, it was reported last week the council has also received 16,000 face masks with use-by-dates of 2014, and the authority repeatedly asked for assurances from the Government the PPE was safe to use.

Council leader Ian Ward said: “This is not acceptable and our front-line workers deserve better than out of date masks and goggles that have failed safety tests.

“Our primary objective is to protect the health and safety of those that need PPE.

“Workers who are putting themselves in harm’s way to help Birmingham get through this crisis should not be put at even greater risk with the supply of potentially defective PPE.

“Despite repeated requests over the last three weeks, the Government has so far failed to give assurances that the face masks are safe to use.

“It is quite frankly outrageous that we have to chase the Government on this issue.

“We accept that sourcing and supplying PPE nationally at this time is a huge challenge.

“But if we identify issues with equipment provided for our front-line staff, the very least the Government can do is respond quickly to reassure key workers and sort any problems.

“It’s not enough to just clap for key workers – we have to do everything we can to keep them safe.”

A DHSC spokesperson said: “The safety of health, care and all front-line staff is our top priority.

“The ‘Tiger Eye protectors’ were bought in 2009 and were in CE marked boxes.

“These were rechecked, and following these assessments, we have issued an alert to clinical settings advising against their use and we are removing them from the supply chain.

“Based on current stock assessments, trusts should have sufficient visors and goggles to immediately stop using ‘Tiger Eye’ protection.

“If settings require replacement eye protection they should contact the National Supply Disruption Line, and we are arranging replacement stock for trusts who need immediate supply.”

Guidance from Public Health England states care workers providing home care should have access to eye protection such as goggles.

The guidance is said to apply whether the client being caring for has symptoms or not.