Workforce at NI's largest health trust down 10% due to coronavirus precautions

By Rebecca Black, PA

Northern Ireland's largest health trust is down 10% of its workforce due to coronavirus precautions.

Cathy Jack from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust told the Stormont health committee that 10% of the workforce was self-isolating.

"At the moment, and this is yesterday's figures, I have 1,200 staff that are self-isolating because of a family member that has been symptomatic, and I have 791 staff that are self-isolating because they are symptomatic, so that's just under 2,000 staff and that's nearly 10% of my workforce," she said.

Dr Jack said the trust wants to be able to test the 1,200 staff who feel well to allow them to come back to work if they do not test positive for Covid-19.

"So clearly, if you were symptomatic with a high fever, you wouldn't want those staff at work anyway... we are really looking at how we can test the 1,200 that actually feel well but have a family member or close contact that are displaying symptoms."

However she said there is a problem with the supply of testing reagents, with a current daily limit of 300 tests.

In terms of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, Dr Jack said there are sufficient basic masks, gloves and aprons.

But she said the biggest challenge is a special type of respiratory mask known as an FFP3.

"That is a challenge and it's a challenge worldwide, and in Northern Ireland it is no different," she told the committee.

The trust had expected to get 10,000 of the 1895 mask for intensive care staff this week, but just 1,000 arrived.

She said the trust has 8,000 of another type of mask in stock and an assurance from the department that 30,000 more are on the way, but cautioned there are only 666 employees in high-risk areas fit tested for it.

"We are making sure that we match our requirement to make sure our staff are protected but PPE, and in particular the FFP3, is a real challenge for us, and we are doing everything we can to protect our staff, make sure they are fit tested and have the right equipment at the right time," she added.

Dr Jack also revealed there are more than 70 patients with Covid-19 being treated at the Mater Hospital.

The Mater was previously designated as the Covid-19 hospital for Belfast, but a 230-bed unit is being set up at Belfast City Hospital for patients requiring intensive care.

She said the City Hospital "has good infrastructure and the oxygen supplies".