Sunderland council leader warns Boris Johnson city cannot guarantee safety of social care workers during coronavirus crisis

Coun Graeme Miller has written a scathing letter to the Prime Minister, highlighting the lack of central Government support for local authorities nationwide as they struggle to cope with the impact of the coronavirus crisis.

It warns that the council is unable to promise staff it will provide ‘the most basic levels of protection’ as they face increasing challenges coping with people in their care.

“The demand for, and cost of, social care grows at a time when our staff are facing additional pressures, including increased levels of sickness within our teams,” wrote Coun Miller.

“We are dealing with daily uncertainty around the level of PPE, meaning we cannot make commitments to our staff that they will have the most basic levels of protection as we ask them to deal with increasingly difficult and heart-breaking situations.”

Some PPE, including some face and eye protectors, can be decontaminated and re-used, but most is intended for singe-use only.

Coun Miller’s letter warns the lack of funding will have a serious impact on the NHS’ ability to cope with the crisis: “We will be forced to make reductions in social care services, reducing support to the most vulnerable in society, as well as job losses amongst our heroic care workers.

Read the letter to Boris Johnson in full.

“There will be a slowing down of patients leaving hospital, with unthinkable consequences for our NHS.”

Sunderland has been promised vital PPE equipment from its partner city thousands of miles away in China.

The mayor of Harbin has written to Coun Miller to offer supplies now that China is beginning to emerge from its own coronavirus crisis.

Sun Zhe said PPE would be sent at the ‘soonest opportunity’.

North East businesses and organisations have stepped up to fill the shortfall in PPE.

Nissan has set up a processing line at its Sunderland plant to package visors, while Sunderland College has donated 3D printers and other supplies and South Shields clothing brand Barbour has switching production from its wax jackets and coats to gowns and scrubs for hospital staff.

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