Sir, – I read with dismay Martin Wall’s article “HSE facing €7.4 million bill for destroying PPE,” October 16th.
Having worked in the HSE for more than 35 years I have long been used to their excesses and wastage, however, this for me is particularly egregious and stupid.
Can someone explain to the HSE what exactly personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to do?
These materials are not for the protection of patients, they are for the protection and avoidance of infection in staff. Whereas sterile equipment such as theatre gowns have a best before date, PPE is not required to be sterile, it functions as a barrier, as it is not in any way a source of risk to a patient.
RM Block
It is merely for the protection of staff. The idea of spending €7.4 million to destroy perfectly good PPE which effectively has a lifetime of usefulness is to say the least profligate.
Having worked through the Covid pandemic and the fear that staff were subject to as a result of a shortage of PPE, the idea of destroying PPE is particularly preposterous as we do not know if or when another pandemic will arise. – Yours, etc,
PETER O’ROURKE,
Retired consultant
Orthopaedic surgeon,
Ramelton,
Co Donegal.
