Some of the new supplies of personal protection equipment secured last weekend by the HSE is not suitable for use, the health service has confirmed.
Concerns were expressed that some of the PPE being distributed to healthcare workers is substandard.
At first there were concerns about a shortage of PPE equipment. Now concerns are being raised about the type of equipment available since it arrived.
Several deliveries have arrived from China this week, however there are reports frontline staff are concerned that the masks are poor quality and the gowns are too small.
The HSE has placed an order of over €200m however there are fears it may not materialize to the extent expected.
The value of the order is €208m and it is to be delivered in five “batches”. Each batch involves up to ten flights from Ireland to pick up the equipment and bring it back from China.
The first of the flights carrying part of the first batch of equipment arrived in Dublin airport last Sunday.
Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe today said: “It is the case that the protective equipment that is now being brought into Ireland, for some of our healthcare workers will be different to the protective equipment they have become used to.”
