The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has joined disability and carer peak bodies in a call for urgent action to ensure people with disabilities, carers and disability service providers have clear advice and appropriate access to personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are months into a pandemic and many people with disabilities are still waiting for access to various forms of PPE” said Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO.
“Lack of PPE has caused people with disabilities, services and workers to cancel services that are essential to general wellbeing, health and social connection. This is leaving many people at risk.
“Despite repeated assurances that guidelines on access to PPE would be released, and that a simplified process to receive PPE in the ACT would be established, this has not happened. These issues were raised at the very start of the pandemic, and yet rollout has been slow and inconsistent.
“While some organisations are starting to receive PPE, services and people with disability are confused about access. Unclear messaging has left organisations and consumers unsure whether to buy their own supplies or wait for PPE to become available from stockpiles.
“It is unacceptable that people with disability do not have choice and control over whether PPE is used in their care.
“The reality is that people with disabilities are unable to practice physical distancing while receiving in-home services where workers provide intimate personal care, food preparation and household cleaning. This includes people living in group settings who have limited choices about who is in their homes.
