UKAFN Presidential Update | Conference and PPE

Dear Members,

Firstly I hope you and your families are staying well and safe through these unprecedented times. There are some things I need to update you around the work UKAFN is doing on your behalf and also Conference 2020.

 

Conference 2020

Hopefully, you will have had time to read your most recent edition of The Helix, UKAFN’s newsletter, sent out on April 3rd, so this will not come as a huge surprise.

We have taken the difficult decision to cancel the UKAFN Conference 2020. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but clearly with the current Covid 19 situation planning for the event has become extremely hard.

Given none of us know how long the current lockdown may last or what post lockdown will look like the reality of holding a conference seemed slim, plus getting a commitment from speakers and venues were restricted. So it seemed the most sensible, though the sad option to cancel for this year.

We can only say that we will be back bigger and better in 2021 and will have a date for your diary as soon as possible.

 

Covid 19 and PPE

I’m sure it has not escaped any of us the ongoing issues for healthcare staff and the provision of PPE. Given the importance of PPE in this crisis, and the struggles being witnessed by our steering group members but also being reported back to us by yourselves we felt it remiss not to act.

So last week we wrote formally to the Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, Dame Donna Kinnair, the Chief Executive of the RCN, Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics and Kate Davies MBE, NHS England raising the issues facing our members and asking for their help in ensuring forensic practitioners are in the consciousness of the Government in relation to PPE.

Following responses and support from all four organisations, today, I have subsequently written to the Rt Hon Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, again voicing our concerns at the struggles being faced by our members in sourcing PPE and I will update you on any responses we receive. You can read the letter below or download a PDF copy.

In the interim please do let us know of any struggles you are facing in these times and we will do our best to raise these at the highest levels.

Please stay safe and well.

Jennie and the UKAFN Board.