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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health against what agents the (a) personal protective equipment and (b) decontamination shelters provided to hospital accident and emergency departments can protect. [40812] Mr. Hutton: The chemical personal protective equipment (PPE) currently being made available to hospitals (and ambulance service staff) fully meets the NHS specification (NHSCPPE/2001) which was developed to ensure that health services personnel are protected during the decontamination of chemically contaminated casualties and able to provide life saving first aid during the decontamination process. The PPE has been tested against 15 liquid industrial chemicals in a standard test battery (ATSM F1001-99a) chosen to represent a broad range of liquid classes and properties. It has also been tested against a representative sample of chemical warfare agents. The purpose of the mobile decontamination facilities currently being made available to hospitals (and ambulance service staff) is to provide privacy and shelter for chemically contaminated casualties during the decontamination process. These facilities are not intended to provide protection against chemical agents for either health service personnel or the chemically contaminated casualty. Health service personnel will be protected by wearing PPE, while casualties will be given appropriate medical treatment once they have been decontaminated.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

40812; 382 c535W;382 c532-3W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Chemical and biological warfare Casualties Contamination Chemicals Ambulance services Hospitals Equipment Protection Protective clothing Staff Accident and emergency departments

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk