A judge-led public inquiry should investigate the “grotesque” failure to give frontline workers personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus pandemic, a trade union body has said.

The TUC has made the call for an independent probe, starting by the end of 2020, after the website Nursing Notes said on Monday that at least 100 health workers had died from Covid-19.

Whether frontline workers were threatened with disciplinary action if they refused to work and whether official PPE guidance left them at risk.

Ministers have repeatedly faced criticism for failing to provide enough PPE since the outbreak began and have blamed “distribution problems”, delays and “international demand” for shortfalls.

But critics say poor planning and chaos within government have put NHS frontline workers in harm’s way.

The crisis came to a head last week when health secretary Matt Hancock admitted there could be shortages of protective gowns within days, and on Friday, Public Health England issued guidance that health workers should reuse PPE if stocks run out.

There have also been reports about care home staff making emergency masks and smocks from bin liners.

“Every day frontline workers are being forced to risk their lives because they don’t have the proper protective equipment,” TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said. “And now they are being told just to make do. Read more

Also Read: Ministers face criticism over lack of equipment for NHS staff as Parliament returns after Easter break

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