Open Letters

This page provides links to correspondence with government officials concerning the failure to provide health and social care workers with effective protection against contracting COVID-19 from infectious patients, a failure which is likely to have been a significant causative factor in death and disease, not only amongst these workers but also by onward transmission to patients and others in their care.

Two organisations are challenged about the serious mishandling of the pandemic as a result of official 'Infection Protection and Control' (IPC) guidance being seriously flawed by requiring the use of surgical masks when providing close-contact care of infectious patients.

Surgical masks do not provide effective protection against inhalation of airborne viruses. They are not even classified as 'PPE' in the UK, yet health and social care workers have been led to believe that these will keep them safe.

Correspondence with Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The HSE is the organisation responsible for regulating and enforcing health and safety legislation throughout the UK.

(1) Open Letter to Ms S Albon, HSE Chief Executive - 7 February 2022

Requests investigation into health and safety offences/inadequate PPE.
(2) Reply from Ms S Albon - 14 March 2022

Supports IPC guidance and denies HSE has acted improperly. Refuses to investigate offences unless (a) breaches of legislation are identified and (b) individual perpetrators are named.
(3) Reply to Ms S Albon - 14 March 2022

Challenges HSE on points of law. Criticises HSE since, knowing the disease was airborne, they took no action to ensure workers are properly protected.
(4) Follow-up to Ms S Albon - 14 March 2022

Submits 7 Freedom of Information requests.
(5) Follow-up to Ms S Albon - 24 March 2022

Expresses concern over recent versions of IPC guidance (confusing and unclear guidance for respiratory protection; not compliant with World Heath Organization guidance). Identifies breaches of legislation and individual perpetrators (note: Individuals' names redacted in line with data protection legislation).
(6) Reply from Ms S Albon - 4 April 2022

Acknowledges receipt of letters 14 & 24 March. Refuses to respond and terminates correspondence.

Note that Ms Albon is either unwilling or unable to answer the 9 straightforward questions relating to HSE guidance and law posed in letter 3 above. It would have been reasonable to expect a regulatory authority to be able to reply to these questions.

Correspondence with the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee

The Committee is a cross-party group of MPs (chaired by the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP) assigned to conduct a "Lessons Learned" inquiry about the Government's handling of the pandemic. The Committee failed to heed warnings that healthcare workers were imperilled by inadequate PPE.