NOTE: By submitting this form and registering with us, you are providing us with permission to store your personal data and the record of your registration. In addition, registration with the Medical Independent includes granting consent for the delivery of that additional professional content and targeted ads, and the cookies required to deliver same. View our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice for further details.

You can opt out at anytime by visiting our cookie policy page. In line with the provisions of the GDPR, the provision of your personal data is a requirement necessary to enter into a contract. We must advise you at the point of collecting your personal data that it is a required field, and the consequences of not providing the personal data is that we cannot provide this service to you.


Don't have an account? Subscribe

Sharp fall in FFP2 masks distributed during 2021 – HSE data

By Catherine Reilly - 25th Nov 2021

Young Customer Woman Shopping In Face Mask

The distribution of FFP2 respirator masks to healthcare sites declined significantly from a high of 3.778 million in February 2021 to a low of 0.326 million in July.

According to data released by the HSE to the Medical Independent (MI), the number of distributed FFP2 masks began rising again in August (0.554 million), September (0.705 million), and October (1.043 million).

In January 2021, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reported to members that it had reached a “formal agreement with the HSE that the FFP2 mask (a higher standard of mask, offering more protection than surgical masks) could be used in all healthcare settings. This was confirmed at national level and we are seeking clear documents to issue to the health system on this.”

According to current HSE guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), healthcare workers “should have access to a well-fitted respirator mask (FFP2) and eye protection when in contact with possible or confirmed Covid-19 cases and Covid-19 contacts”.

Prior to the change in HSE guidance in early 2021, respirator masks were advised only for healthcare professionals involved in a defined set of aerosol-generating procedures.

As previously reported by MI, a number of specialists in occupational medicine have been advocating for more widespread use of fitted respirator masks in the health service. In the last edition of MI, Dean of the RCPI Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Dr Robert Ryan, confirmed that specialists had raised concerns with the Faculty in regard to control measures in healthcare and he was conveying their feedback to “stakeholders”.

The HSE has no plans to change the guidance on PPE “as it reflects current evidence”, according to a spokesperson.

Leave a Reply

Latest
Latest Issue
The Medical Independent 26th September 2023

You need to be logged in to access this content. Please login or sign up using the links below.

Most Read