Laura Martin

Respiratory Consultant, TB & Infection doctor, Mum, Feminist, Often, informally, the IT helpdesk.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@hiralyhall Sounds scary, I'm sorry.. Pleased you're OK. There are some properly amazing paramedics out there ❤️

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

ICNARC data. Great example of a picture avoiding it being necessary to tell a thousand words

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

Well said @elinlowri What an incredible job they do. Our team too.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@sarahlogan76 I watched an outstanding COVID operation ouch w my #NHSchildren age 8 & 10 yesterday & was quite moved by @DoctorChrisVT and @xandvt going to so much trouble to make sense of it all to them. Thank you.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@tomayates Interesting. Thank you, we were discussing asymptomatic transmission today @susannahamelia @onnmin

[Susannah Bloch @susannahamelia]

@Ralph_McTell @NHSuk Heartbreakingly lovely.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@MattHancock is worried we're expecting PPE to 'fall from the sky'. Personally, I was expecting it to 'be produced by UK manufacturing'. A less ambitious aim, I'm sure you'll agree. Surely someone has mentioned this as an alternative. @hammersmithandy

[Piers Morgan @piersmorgan]

BREAKING: The NHS will run out of gowns within HOURS & will ask doctors & nurses to work without full-length protection - @guardian.
This is outrageous, @MattHancock - you've spent all week insisting there's enough PPE for frontline medics. Where is it???????????

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

Agree @susannahamelia, very proud to be part of it. But, adequate supplies of PPE you say BBC reporter? First I've heard of it. When are the government going to secure a UK based supply? @hammersmithandy

[Susannah Bloch @susannahamelia]

Amazing and very proud to be part of it. But @ImperialNHS @Imperialpeople @fergalkeane47 I’m not sure we have ‘adequate supplies of PPE’.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@docfok @OutbreakJake But no high quality evidence of non airborne transmission either.. & I accept we're having to make Pragmatic decisions all over the shop, but for HCW protection, it really is difficult to justify.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

FFP3 vs Surgical mask PPE guidelines are based on SARS-CoV-2 transmission being large droplet spread only on the general ward. This JAMA article illustrates why that assumption is flawed. https://t.co/ZBFYqklzuE @OutbreakJake

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@docfok @OutbreakJake Low quality evidence is not the same as high quality evidence, it means very little. There is a moral obligation to manufacture more PPE without a doubt.

[Rod escombe @rod_escombe]

@OutbreakJake @ljmljg @lizWWyld Numerous aerobiology studies have failed to detect any viable M.tuberculosis in concentrated samples from various air sampling techniques. This is not good evidence that TB is not airborne.
What’s the downside to safety first with a new pathogen, esp re PPE for frontline workers?

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@OutbreakJake .. And when we are in the heartbreaking situation of caring for our critically unwell colleagues we will know we did everything we could to protect them.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@OutbreakJake I know jake. I'm not looking for a fight either. I think we should be doing what the Chinese are doing. Maximum precautions in all settings with covid + patients. Supported by UK manufacturing to provide supply. Staffing will improve as nurses feel protected..

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

@OutbreakJake @hammersmithandy @richardhorton1 @MakeUK_ Of course not.. There is no argument here for using PPE instead of correct doffing, hand hygiene etc. Just a very strong argument for assuming a position of as much protection as possible in the face of inadequate evidence. Let's do this now, not wait until we know more.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

UK Government need to manufacture PPE in massive quantities to provide our staff with the highest possible protection. It is inconceivable that ventilators are already in production but PPE is not. 'We might run out' is Not Good Enough @hammersmithandy @richardhorton1 @MakeUK_

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

You're right @OutbreakJake, I couldn't agree more that the evidence base for what we know about this disease transmission is very fragile. That's why there is a morale obligation to provide the highest level of PPE possible to our Healthcare workers until we know for sure.

[Hollie McNish @holliepoetry]

Spoke to my beautiful friend last night - a lung doctor in the nhs. She said, while its a lovely gesture, instead of just clapping please could you just never ever vote conservative again.

[Laura Martin @LungDocMartin]

#ClapForTheNHS is lovely, but sufficient & appropriate PPE would be even better #protectourhealthworkers

[richard horton @richardhorton1]

Many examples exist of lack of full-face visors, goggles, FFP3 masks, and gowns. Coughing on an open ward is an AGP, yet no protection is offered. One nurse writes: “the situation is not good.” Staff are overstretched. They feel they are not working in a safe environment.