Doctor accused of taking five medical face masks on holiday

A cancer specialist is being investigated for allegedly taking five medical face masks from his hospital to use on a family holiday abroad earlier this year.

Edward Fitzsimons, a consultant haematologist at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, is being investigated by his bosses at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC). NHSGGC health board said: “We can confirm an internal investigation is ongoing following an incident involving a member of staff at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.”

The Beatson is the UK’s busiest cancer centre for patient numbers, serving the west of Scotland with a catchment area of 2.5 million people. Dr Fitzsimons, an honorary clinical associate professor at Glasgow School of Medicine, said: “I am unable to comment on an ongoing investigation.”

Meanwhile, the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to NHS staff on the frontline continued to cause concern yesterday.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock faced criticism yesterday after describing PPE as a “precious resource”. He said there is enough PPE to go round if it is used in line with official guidance.

But the Royal College of Nursing dismissed suggestions healthcare staff were “abusing or overusing” PPE. General secretary Dame Donna Kinnair told the BBC that no PPE was “more precious a resource than a healthcare worker’s life, a nurse’s life, a doctor’s life”.

The BMA medical union warned PPE supplies in some areas were at “dangerously low levels”. However, one doctor at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow yesterday said there was enough for everyone who needed it, but said concern was understandable. “Obviously, everyone wants to be wearing the most effective protection all the time,” she said. “But we are following the science and, right now, the science says it’s not necessary.

“If people are carrying out procedures, like intubation, that carry particular risks then they will wear the fullest protection, full face visors and all the rest. But for most of us, most of the time, that is not necessary. At this time, we have enough masks, safety glasses, whatever, to do our jobs safely, according to the science as it stands.”

She said staff were coping although there was additional stress: “It is hard, particularly for the younger ones, but colleagues working in mental health have put in place support for anyone feeling they need to talk.”

She said staff were expecting numbers to rise rapidly within days. “That’s what we have been told to expect.”