Exclusive: inquests into NHS staff coronavirus deaths told not to look at PPE shortages

Guidance to avoid examining systemic failures is ‘very worrying’, says Labour

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Inquests into coronavirus deaths among NHS workers should avoid examining systemic failures in provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), coroners have been told, in a move described by Labour as “very worrying”.

The chief coroner for England and Wales, Mark Lucraft QC, has issued guidance that “an inquest would not be a satisfactory means of deciding whether adequate general policies and arrangements were in place for provision of PPE to healthcare workers”.

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