Problems in the supply of PPE during the covid-19 pandemic are symptomatic of the ongoing neglect of doctors’ wellbeing, argues Judith Dawson<\/p>\n
Working as a healthcare professional has long been associated with the risk of exposure to disease and the denial of self. Starting as a new medical house officer in 1989, I had an occupational health medical. The\u00a0 consultant looked at me seriously and said, \u201cYou will always need to be vigilant for signs of tuberculosis as this hospital serves a high incidence population.” <\/span><\/p>\n Later in my career, I was suspended from doing invasive procedures for four weeks as I showed no response to hepatitis B vaccination and was suspected of being a carrier, perhaps even infected, while working on the paediatric liver unit. <\/span><\/p>\n A working week of more than 100 hours has led to junior doctors being trained to deny their own physical needs and ignore the warning signs of illness. One of the doctors in my graduating year cohort developed sleep deprivation epilepsy after working a one in two rota. Colleagues fell asleep at the wheel driving home after weekends on call. More recently, we have experienced the hypocrisy of an approach that advises the general public to lose weight, exercise, and reduce stress, while driving the medical workforce to work longer hours in unhealthy environments with poor nutrition and rest facilities. How is it possible to be so inhumane as to devise on call rota arrangements that deny individuals the right to arrange time off for family funerals or weddings?<\/span><\/p>\n The incoherent and dishonest approach we’ve seen to the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) during this pandemic is the culmination of years of downgrading the medical profession and sublimating it to centrally driven target delivery at all costs. <\/span><\/p>\n