A shocking 65% of the Personal Protection Equipment which arrived in Ireland in the first batch is only up to the required standard here, it has been revealed.
Local frontline workers in Donegal, including ambulance personnel, complained that the equipment did not fit properly.
Nurses also complained that the arms of some scrubs were not long enough and that elastic bands had to be used to keep them over their bare skin.
The head of the Healthy Service Executive Paul Reid said that the first batch that arrived is just 10% of the order.
Of this, he said the PPE has been divided into three categories.
The first category includes coveralls, gowns, goggles and face-shields that have been identified as suitable for use, accounting for 65% of the total order.
A further 15% of the order has been classified as “acceptable for healthcare worker use if the preferred product is not available”.
However, Mr Reid said that 20% of the order that arrived here does not meet the requirements for general healthcare use.
He said that from this batch, the HSE will be using this material for other purposes, and this could include isolation units.
He said a specific issue relates to masks that do not meet the requirements for specific respiratory masks but may be used for other purposes.
Mr Reid said that the HSE does not want any further delivery of these items in future orders and that it has been in discussions with the supplier about this.
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