A masked thief ransacked an NHS office and stole personal protective equipment (PPE) in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The vital items were stolen by the balaclava-clad thief during a raid on an office in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Alongside protective equipment, which is in short supply in medical facilities across the country as doctors and nurses battle the coronavirus pandemic, the masked raider stole laptops and some petty cash.
In a post on Facebook, one NHS worker described the theft of the protective gear as a ‘massive sucker punch’ and said they felt ‘gutted, angry and in shock’.
Great Manchester Police have launched an investigation into the theft, which took place at an office building in Windsor Street, Salford.
Alongside person protective equipment (PPE), laptops and some petty cash were stolen. Pictured: A nurse wearing PPE washes her hands (stock image)
The items were stolen during a raid on an office in Windsor Street, Salford. The office is used by Salford Care Homes Practice, a GP surgery that looks after people in the city’s care homes
Staff working for Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust arrived at the office on Sunday morning to find it had been ransacked.
The office is used by Salford Care Homes Practice, a GP surgery that looks after people in the city’s care homes.
A spokesperson for Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We are shocked and saddened that one of our community bases has been burgled and belongings stolen, including some items of PPE equipment.
‘Our priority has been supporting staff based at this unit and ensuring they have access to the equipment that they need to carry out their roles.
It’s a testament to staff that service delivery has not been significantly impacted today following this incident.
‘We will support Greater Manchester Police in their ongoing inquiries.’
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police added: ‘Police were called shortly before 7.50am on Sunday 12 April 2020 to reports of a burglary at an NHS building on Windsor Street in Salford.
‘Initial enquiries have established that an offender – wearing gloves and a balaclava – made off with a number of laptops and a quantity of petty cash from offices inside the building.
The office is a run by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, who run Salford Royal Hospital (pictured)
‘It is believed that the offender also caused criminal damage to another building nearby.’
Police say no arrests have been made and anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 2836 quoting incident number 680 of 12/04/2020.
The spokesperson added: ‘Details can also be anonymously passed to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.’
The theft comes as Matt Hancock today vowed ‘we will not’ rest until NHS staff were provided with protective equipment.
The statement came as the country’s main nursing union told its members they could refuse to treat coronavirus patients if they felt unsafe.
The Health Secretary came under mounting pressure at the daily news conference this afternoon as he revealed that under-pressure units face on average a two-and-a-half-day wait to be restocked with personal protective equipment (PPE).
Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) today vowed ‘we will not’ rest until NHS staff were provided with protective equipment
He spoke after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) advised its members to refuse to treat coronavirus patients as ‘a last resort’ amid claims vital items like masks, goggles and gowns are still not reaching the frontlines.
A spokesman for the union admitted that with-holding treatment would ‘go against every instinct’, but added that ‘their safety must not be compromised’.
When asked about the supply of PPE and if the government could commit to a date to deliver more PPE, Mr Hancock said: ‘It’s impossible because the quest is to get the right PPE to the right people on the front line at the right time across many millions of people across the NHS and social care.
‘I’m glad to say that effort is moving in the right direction, we now have record amounts of PPE that’s been put out into the system but until everyone gets the PPE they need then we won’t rest.’
Earlier this month, Mr Hancock confirmed 19 NHS workers had now lost their lives after contracting Covid-19.
Across the UK there have been 84,279 cases of coronavirus so far, while 10,612 people have died after contracting the virus.