POLICY: Scottish Government consultation on Future pandemic PPE supplies in Scotland

The consultation acknowledges that the ‘PPE required to prepare for any future pandemic could differ and will be decided upon in line with expert clinical guidance’ but does not ask any lessons learned questions about this, despite it being is as important a matter as supply.

RCN’s position on the airborne transmission of Covid-19 (RCN position on personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 | Royal College of Nursing) means that, for any future pandemic (which, whether of Covid-19 or not, is highly likely to involve the airborne transmission of a respiratory virus), the provision of FFP3 masks is absolutely paramount as is a proper programme of face fitting. In fact, face fitting should not wait until the arrival of the next pandemic but, rather, there should be ongoing continued access to face fitting for all appropriate staff along with an expectation that staff are re-face-fitted at an interval agreed nationally.