Care workers open letter calls on Scottish Government to “listen and learn” over PPE crisis

GMB Scotland Media Release 

For immediate distribution: Wednesday 8 April 2020  

Care workers open letter calls on Scottish Government to “listen and learn” over PPE crisis  

Thousands of Scotland’s frontline care workers have issued an open letter today (Wednesday 8 April) to Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon calling for the personal protective equipment and testing they need to help save lives and protect themselves.  
 
The letter, which was circulated by GMB workplace representatives and has now been signed by over 1200 frontline care workers employed in both the public and private sector in the last 72 hours, states “we will not let our clients down but we are being let down by our employers and by Government”. 
 
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services Drew Duffy said:

“There has been a fundamental breakdown of trust between Scotland’s care workforce, their employers and the Scottish Government.  
 
“Confusing, and at times contradictory, advice from Scottish Government figures surrounding appropriate personal protective equipment has undermined the efforts of these workers to protect some of Scotland’s most vulnerable citizens from the coronavirus pandemic – and themselves.  
 
“The thousands of signatures on this letter each represents an essential frontline worker in the fight against the virus, and they need urgent reassurance from the Scottish Government that they will be given the protective equipment and testing that they need if they are to safely deliver care. 
 
“The Scottish Government needs to listen and learn from these key workers.”  

ENDS  

Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976447077.  

Notes to Editors:  

Open Letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: https://tinyurl.com/qob5n9s