The Covid Inquiry is clear: IPC guidance failed.
Five key mistakes led to avoidable harm for healthcare workers and patients.
We cannot afford to ignore this. Read the paper by @EvonneTCurran.bsky.social and @alitwy.bsky.social
👉 shh-uk.org/five-ipc-...
#SafeAir4All
Covid spreads through the air. The evidence is clear. Professor Trisha Greenhalgh explains what that means for healthcare workers who are still at risk. Watch on our resources page.
shh-uk.org/airborne-...
🧬 New research study: Research shows Long Covid can occur during pregnancy, with symptoms and potential risks affecting maternal health and care decisions.
Article link: shh-uk.org/?p=35892
#LongCovidResearch #MaternalHealth #PregnancySafety #MentalHealthSupport
Today at 11:00 💙
Our SHH-UK support group for healthcare workers with Long Covid is happening this morning.
Come as you are — listen, share, or just be part of a community that understands.
🔗 Join: teams.microsoft.com/...
#LongCovid #PeerSupport #SafeSpace
🧬 New research study: Dizziness, rapid heart rate, and fatigue in Long Covid may be linked to POTS. Research highlights impacts on daily life and work.
Article link: shh-uk.org/?p=35890
#LongCovid #Fatigue #MentalHealth #LongCovidAwareness #HealthcareHeroes
Reminder: our SHH-UK Long Covid support group is tomorrow (Tuesday 14th) at 11:00.
If you’re a healthcare worker living with Long Covid, join us for a supportive, understanding space.
🔗 teams.microsoft.com/...
📩 supportgroup@shh-uk.org
"The policies required to provide integrated care for long COVID contribute to building resilient and people-centered health systems for any future health threats."
Healthcare workers with #LongCovid — join our online support group
📅 Tues 14th
⏰ 11:00–12:00
A safe space to connect, share & be heard.
🔗 teams.microsoft.com/...
📩 supportgroup@shh-uk.org
#CareForThoseWhoCared
The latest OECD report, published this week, makes it clear that Long Covid isn’t just a health issue — it’s a workforce crisis.
Reduced productivity, job loss, ongoing care needs.
Better protection = better outcomes.
Read the report: shh-uk.org/long-covi...
Healthcare workers living with Long Covid — you’re not alone.
Join our online support group
🗓 14 April
⏰ 11:00–12:00
A safe space to share, listen, and connect.
🔗 Join: teams.microsoft.com/...
#LongCovid #HealthcareWorkers #Support
🧬 New research summary: Returning to work with Long Covid is often slow & complex. Flexible, tailored support is key to helping people manage symptoms and stay in work.
Article link: shh-uk.org/?p=35852
#LongCovid #ReturnToWork
Failing to call Covid airborne was not just a scientific error. It had deadly consequences. Healthcare workers lost their health, their careers and in some cases their lives.
#SafeAir4All #CovidIsAirborne #LongCovid
Read more: shh-uk.org/failing-t...
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" #LongCOVID is still poorly understood, with millions of people living with fatigue, cognitive impairment, & cardiovascular effects that medicine is only slowly grappling with":
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
🏃 Run. Fundraise. Make a difference.
Support healthcare workers living with Long Covid through our Run for Charity events.
From 5Ks to marathons – there’s something for everyone.
👉 shh-uk.org/run-for-c...
#SafeAir4All #CareForThoseWhoCared
The Inquiry recognised that reporting of HCW deaths under the RIDDOR Regulations for reporting occupational disease should be better.
Sadly it didn't address the failure to report occupational infections which don’t cause deaths but leave HCWs crippled with Long-COVID.
/End
Importantly though, the Inquiry recognised that ventilation is only effective against ‘far-field’ transmission, but has no impact on other transmission routes such as, for example, close quarter care of infectious patients.
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Having accepted that ventilation is an important risk reduction measure for airborne diseases, the Inquiry took evidence from Professor Beggs concerning the benefits of installing HEPA air filters:
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Baroness Hallett’s unequivocal recommendation is that the DHSC and relevant health authorities:
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The Inquiry concluded:
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AGPs: ‘DEAD IN THE WATER !’
The Inquiry considered the vexed question of Government only allowing RPE for Aerosol Generating Procedures. It has now been laid to rest – or at least it should be, unless DHSC and NHS persist in ignoring Lady Hallett’s recommendations.
/18 of 23
This same issue is discussed in more detail at section 8.4 of the above-mentioned CATA report into the UK IPC Cell where Professor Mark Wilcox (NHS England IPC Director) admits the terminology can lead to ‘misperceptions’.
/17 of 23
The Inquiry discussed the bizarre framing of IPC guidance issued around winter 2021/22 as to when Respiratory Protective equipment should be worn using terms like ‘wholly’ or ‘predominantly’ airborne without making a clear statement as to how each disease is spread.
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The UK IPC Cell’s understanding of the hierarchy is covered in CATA’s own investigative report tinyurl.com/CATA-rpt-2 (section 3.4.2).
At a meeting in August 2022 between 2 healthcare professionals, Mr Duncan Burton and Dr Lisa Ritchie, the following was noted:
/15 of 23
The Inquiry concluded that the IPC Cell failed to understand the ‘hierarchy of risk controls’.
It failed to appreciate that the elements of the hierarchy were not mutually exclusive.
The Inquiry accepted the evidence of three IPC experts which alluded to the lack of skills and bias of the UK IPC Cell.
The Inquiry concluded that the UK IPC Cell did not function effectively.
/13 of 23
Prof Susan Hopkins also referenced this paper in her witness statement.
/12 of 23
At para 172 of her statement Dr Ritchie claimed that this paper was discussed at the IPC Cell meeting on 23 Dec 2020.
It is difficult to see how this can be true when Freedom of Information data shows that the paper had not yet been written!
(p.34 of above-mentioned CATA report)
/11 of 23
The PHE report was not published on 23 Dec 2020 as stated (the Inquiry was misled on this matter).
It was ‘buried’ by PHE senior management and only saw the light of day when adduced into evidence for the Inquiry by Dr Ritchie & Prof Susan Hopkins.
tinyurl.com/PHE-Paper-23...
/10 of 23
The Inquiry investigated meetings of the IPC Cell on 22/23 Dec 2020 at which Public Health England recommended wider use of FFP3s beyond AGPs.
Paragraph 1.133 is untrue, as shown by CATA’s independent investigations
tinyurl.com/CATA-rpt-2
(section 2.8)
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