Midwife Laura Matthews has expressed extreme anger over the Conservative government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly regarding personal protective equipment (PPE). Her response follows the Covid inquiry's findings that the Johnson government wasted £10bn on PPE, as reported on 14 July.
Frontline Worker's Harrowing Account
Matthews, a midwife from West Wickham, London, recounted her experiences working without adequate protection. She recalled being fitted for an FFP3 mask, only to be told there were not enough available and given a basic paper mask instead. She also described being instructed to take potentially infected scrubs home to wash, as the hospital could not provide clean ones.
Management initially shut down computers to enforce social distancing but later reopened them when staff needed them for work. Matthews remembered entering homes of people with Covid to care for new mothers and babies, fearing for her own life. She contrasted her reality with Tory MPs joking about social drinks after work, noting that her staffroom was just 2 metres by 1 metre for 20 staff, and they had to supply their own washing-up liquid.
Unabated Anger and Distrust
Matthews stated that her anger has not abated. She did not receive a bonus or particularly good pay. Hearing about the staggering sums squandered by Boris Johnson's government has made her reluctant to trust any government again. She hopes Johnson is ashamed of his legacy but doubts he is.
According to Matthews, the inquiry's findings were not unexpected but still infuriated her. She expressed that the government's failures have left a lasting impact on frontline workers like herself.
