AMBULANCE chiefs insist paramedics working during the coronavirus crisis have enough protective equipment, despite concerns.

UNISON, the public service trade union, is calling for more personal protective equipment (PPE) to be made available to ambulance staff as they fight on the frontline against COVID-19.

It comes after an ambulance was called to a house in Dorset, but one of the two paramedics had to wait outside the property due to the lack of equipment available.

A Dorset resident said: "The ambulance staff are doing a fantastic job, as is everyone in the NHS. But I was surprised to hear the paramedic who came into our home say their colleague was waiting in the ambulance to save on PPE.

"I know that they work in pairs so it was unusual to only see one of them.

"I think it's a disgrace that paramedics are not being properly equipped to look after themselves and the people they care for."

Jo Fowles, Assistant Branch Secretary for South Western and Allied Health UNISON Branch, said: “It is clear from speaking to frontline ambulance staff that there simply isn’t enough protective equipment to safely do their jobs.

"Over the coming weeks the entire country will be relying on NHS, ambulance and social care staff. It’s vital the government acts immediately to reassure all health workers that they’ll have everything necessary.

“While supply problems are being addressed, staff need to know that the government and their senior managers are doing everything possible to sort issues.

“Health workers need urgent clarification on what protective equipment is needed to do their jobs. Those responding to and transporting patients without the right supplies need to know when kit will arrive. And most importantly they need to know what to do if the equipment has yet to turn up or runs out.

“This crucial issue must be sorted now before the country hits the pandemic’s peak. Staff in ambulance stations, hospitals and health clinics are the ones who’ll be looking after us all, risking their lives to save others. They need a guarantee everything is being done now to keep them as safe as possible.”

South Western Ambulance Service said there was 'good stock levels of PPE across the Trust'.

A spokesman said: “SWASFT have always kept good stocks of PPE and we have been working hard since the start of the outbreak to ensure these stock levels are maintained.

“To do this we undertake regular audits of stock levels across our region and continue to work closely with a range of suppliers and a nationally co-ordinated stock system to ensure that we have the relevant PPE we need for staff and patients.

“All our ambulances carry sufficient PPE to be able to appropriately respond to a patient with potential COVID-19 and further stocks are also available on stations.

“Understandably everyone is worried and concerned about their own, and their families' health. We want to reassure everyone that we are doing all that we can to protect both our staff and our patients.”