'Superhero' doctor who died from Covid-19 'pleaded for PPE days before contracting disease'

Dr Peter Tun had reportedly pleaded for PPE in the days before he contracted Covid-19
PA
Imogen Braddick24 April 2020

An NHS doctor who died after contracting coronavirus had reportedly pleaded with his hospital to provide protective equipment (PPE) in the days before he caught the disease.

Dr Peter Tun, from Reading, died aged 62 at his own workplace, the Royal Berkshire Hospital, on April 13 after testing positive for Covid-19 a week earlier.

In a statement released by the trust, Dr Tun’s sons Michael and William said: "Our family is immensely proud of our superhero dad.

"He used to say, ‘treat all your patients like they are your own family’ and this speaks to the type of character that he had.

NHS workers kitted out in PPE moving a patient at Queen's Hospital in London
Getty Images

"To us, he was simply the best human we know and we will miss him every day."

The Guardian reports that, on March 23, he sent emails to hospital managers pleading for protective equipment but was told that, with PPE in short supply, his neuro-rehabilitation ward ranked lower than others that also needed protective kit.

Dr Tun was told his team could not even have surgical masks, since there were no suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19 in his ward, even though two members of his team were self-isolating.

In one email, published by The Guardian, Dr Tun said: "We do not have any basic surgical masks for Caversham ward neuro-rehab medical team. The ward stock has been taken by ICU (intensive care), according to a staff nurse...we do not have eye protection kits, gowns nor scrubs."

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One manager had emailed back to refuse his requests, saying: "These supplies are not widely available and need to be used sensibly… this is the Trust position at the moment and I do not have any powers to influence this."

Another emailed reply from management said Dr Tun’s ward did not require PPE as it did not have any confirmed Covid-19 patients.

Dr Tun’s son Michael told the paper: "When a doctor of 40 years’ experience has to literally beg for surgical masks, and it is denied, something has gone seriously wrong."​

While not blaming the hospital for nationwide shortages of PPE, he added: "I think my dad’s death was avoidable and that probability would have been reduced if he had had proper personal protective equipment."

In a statement, the Royal Berkshire Hospital told the Guardian it had correctly applied the NHS-wide guidance on PPE, adding that managers and matrons regularly checked wards to ensure staff were “always safely, properly and appropriately kitted out”.

Chief executive Steve McManus paid tribute to Dr Tun and said his death "has sent a wave of grief throughout the entire organisation".

"Tributes have been pouring in from staff who have worked with Peter over the years and he will be sorely missed," he said.

"On behalf of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we extend our sincere condolences to Peter’s family, friends and colleagues."

Earlier this week, the Government insisted "every possible option" was being pursued to secure additional PPE but said with unprecedented worldwide demand, the situation was "very challenging".

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We are working around the clock to ensure PPE is delivered as quickly as possible to those on the front line, and have delivered over one billion items since the outbreak began.

“The full weight of Government is behind this effort and we continue to work with industry, social care providers, the NHS, NHS Supply Chain and the Army so all our NHS and care staff have the right protection.”

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