good morning, welcome to bbc news. i'm victoria derbyshire. here are the latest headlines: more warnings from hospitals in england over shortages of personal protective equipment — some say supplies of gowns are critically low. it comes after a delivery of protective equipment from turkey was delayed. ministers call on all companies to do their bit, to help bolster supplies. i would urge any companies that feel that they have not had a response from government and have that capacity to continue to come forward. we're working with companies across the board. scientists are looking into whether blood from covid—19 survivors could be used in a new treatment for those infected. from this morning, businesses can apply for grants to cover eighty per cent of the wages of staff who have been temporarily laid off.

and germany is relaxing some of its lockdown measures from today, with the outbreak there, now said to be "under control". after a weekend of warnings that some supplies of personal protective equipment for nhs workers are on the verge of running out, a number of hospitals across england say their stocks of gowns are now critically low. it comes as the government is criticised over delays to a delivery of ppe, including 400,000 gowns from turkey, that had been due to arrive yesterday. in other developments — scientists are looking into whether the blood of coronavirus survivors can be used to treat people who are ill in hospital with covid—19.

tens of thousands of temporary mortuary spaces are being provided across the uk by the government — ministers have described the measure as a precaution rather than a predicion. and from today, businesses can apply for grants to cover 80 per cent of the wages of staff who have been temporarily laid off because of the lockdown. meanwhile, germany is relaxing some of its lockdown measures from today. the authorities announced last week that the outbreak there was under control. our first report this morning comes from john mcmanus. it's the issue that won't go away. can the government guarantee the safety of both nhs and care workers by providing them with enough supplies of personal protective equipment, ppe? despite initial assurances that there was enough ppe to go round, ministers have since admitted that in england that hasn't always been the case and there were fears that essential supplies would run out over the weekend. this consignment of ppe arrived

at glasgow prestwick airport from china on saturday. but a flight on sunday containing supplies from turkey, destined for the nhs in england, never made it to the uk. it's supposed to contain 400,000 badly needed hospital gowns. the british medical association has described the delay as "a matter of life and death". and the organisation representing nhs trusts says promises about individual consignments aren't always fulfilled. bitter experience over the last few weeks has demonstrated that because of the erratic nature of the supply, you can't really count on gowns being ready to be distributed to the front line until they've actually arrived in this country, you've opened up the boxes and checked that actually they are the gowns they say were and the numbers that are meant to be there. the bbc has heard concerns that some companies have had their offers to manufacture ppe ignored. the government says it does need their help.

every single offer of help is being taken very seriously. triage dealt with, so, essentially, when it comes in, we are working to resolve with them if we can make use of those supplies. and, of course, i would urge any companies that feel that they have not had a response from government and have that capacity, that they do continue to come forward. we're working with companies across the board. across the uk, more than 16,000 people have now died in hospital from coronavirus. that's up by 596 on the previous 2a hours and is the smallest rise in nearly two weeks, but it doesn't include deaths in the care homes. 0ne industry body has estimated they run into thousands. meanwhile, evidence that the hard work and skill of nhs staff is paying off. the first patient to be successfully treated at the new nightingale facility in london was able to transfer to another hospital, as his condition had improved. applause. applause for him but for the government,

the questions about its response to the pandemic continue. john mcmanus, bbc news. we're going to speak to the former labour prime minster tony blair in the next few minutes about his strategy for easing lockdwon restrictions. scientists around the world are working hard to find an effective treatment for covid—19, but it's a long process that could take many months or even years. here in the uk, a team is already carrying out some human trials, with a technique which uses the blood from survivors to treat those who are ill. 0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle explains. it's a race to save lives and in the hunt for new treatments, blood may hold the key. nhs blood and transplants have started approaching people who recovered from covid—19. their blood contains antibodies, which are produced by the immune system and destroy the virus. the hope is to start a clinical trial to see if these antibodies can help patients who are currently ill.

scientists have welcomed the move but say the uk has been too slow. in terms of the uk, i think there are many aspects of this pandemic we'll look back on and say, i wonder why we didn't move a little bit faster? my hope would be that, within two weeks, we would see the first patients in the uk treated with convalescent plasma, having jumped over the various hurdles that need to be jumped, in order to clear the path to do this. the technology for this treatment is straightforward. someone who's had coronavirus needs to have fully recovered. their blood is then collected and the red and white blood cells are removed. what's left behind is called plasma, and this contains the antibodies they've built up while fighting the virus. this is then given to someone who has covid—19. the hope is that the donor's antibodies could help the patient to attack the virus. 0ne person's plasma can be given to up to three other people.

plasma therapy won't be a magic bullet, and scientists still need to assess how effective it is. but, with no current treatments for covid—19, this could help until a vaccine is found. rebecca morelle, bbc news. the government's scheme to help pay people's wages and support businesses amid the covid—19 pandemic has gone live. last month, the chancellor rishi sunak announced that the coronavirus job retention scheme will give people 80% of their usual earnings — up to £2,500 a month, meaning that they can be furloughed rather than laid off from their place of work as businesses try to cope with the fallout from covid—19. the prime minister may not be back in downing street but he is back at work. he held a two hour meeting on friday with his key advisers and his temporary stand in, dominic raab. he raised concerns that lifting the lockdown too soon risks a second peak of the virus and greater damage

to the economy. let's talk to the former labour prime minister, tony blair. good morning to you, mr blair. good morning. the government has said repeatedly it won't talk about how it might go about easing lockdown restrictions because it risks, they say, confusing the message of staying at home. do you think it does? i think we can handle both discussions. by the way, the government is completely right in saying you have to make sure this suppression phase is effective and works and it would be crazy to end it prematurely. 0n the other hand, the economic and indeed health damage that the severity of the lockdown is causing means that, again, the sooner we can responsibly ease restrictions, the better. the paper my institute has put out today is not a criticism of the government at all, it is constructive advice as

to the types of issues the government has to deal with when you come to easing the lockdown and then it suggests how you reposition government to deal with every aspect of this, because it is so extraordinarily complex and difficult. so, if you were prime minister right now, what would be your criteria that using lockdown restrictions? well, the scientific and medical advice would have to be that you got the disease properly under control. in other words, that suppression has worked. because even when you ease the lockdown, you will find that every so often there is another outbreak. you have to have measures in place to be able to contain bat and suppress it again. this is going to be quite a long process in one of the things we describe in the paper is that when people talk about returning to normal, i think it's going to be a different type of normal. therefore, it means that right now, use these next three weeks of three weeks is what it is, to put in place will be

measures of preparedness we need so that we are dealing with each aspect of this. so if you take for example mass testing and we have another paper on this tomorrow, i think there is no way you can get out of there is no way you can get out of the lockdown without mass testing. i think the government accepts that. but putting in place the right infrastructure to do that maths testing, to combine both the so—called pcr test, which tells you if you have the disease at the antibody test which tells you whether you have had it, putting those two things in place in the right way, getting the community force you will need to help do this ona force you will need to help do this on a mass scale because you will have to test a large part of the population. this is a huge logistical and government challenge. so what we are also suggesting is that in respect of each of these areas, identify each one of them, but a senior person in charge, with a mixture of outside help, as well as expert opinion, and make sure that each one of those areas is being gone into in the most minute detail, so that when you do start to

ease, you are in a position to do it properly and carefully and successfully, because if we don't start to get our economy back to some type of normal, then i really... i'm terrified about the long—term economic and social damage of this. what do you think would happen if the government doesn't get that right, when you say you are terrified, what do you mean? well, i mean if you look at the government report from last week about the economic consequences of this, indeed if you look around the world, because all countries are dealing with this, the effect of taking this amount of economic activity out of the economy, every week that passes, you are losing billions and billions of pounds. of course, the government, rightly again, has provided support from business, you have been talking about that, and support for people as they go through this difficult period. but just imagine when you come out of the lockdown, you emerge from the tunnel and you look around you at the economic landscape, it's going

to be very different. it's going to hit some sectors very severely, retail, hospitality, construction. manufacturing. so, you take all of that demand out of the economy, yes, government can step in and help but at some point you've got to get economic activity moving again because otherwise you are left with a bill that is going to take you a very long time to pay. a bill that is going to take you a very long time to paylj a bill that is going to take you a very long time to pay. i will come back to that if i may but it is clear from what you are saying, you don't see it as some reportedly do, asa don't see it as some reportedly do, as a choice between lives versus livelihoods, the two are absolutely interlinked? yes, absolutely interlinked, that is right. the fact is, directly, right now, isuspect there are many people with, if you like, what you might call the normal run of conditions. it might be heart, stroke, cancer and so on. many of those won't be receiving the priority treatment they probably

need. that is understandable but it isa need. that is understandable but it is a fact. but also, if you create lasting economic and social damage, and the other thing my report shows is the poorest parts of the population will suffer most in this because they are often happily securejobs. then because they are often happily secure jobs. then the damage and pressure on your health care system is also going to be enormous. so the lives versus livelihoods choice i think is a false one. the government, let me make it clear, is right to suppress right now. you have to keep the lockdown in place, but that is why you need a massive amount of work in order to prepare for easing it in the most responsible way. the other thing, by the way, victoria, is we will be able to learn from other countries. some countries in europe are already opening up. you have a lot of lessons from places like south korea, hong kong, taiwan, who started to ease. so there is a... inaudible and of course... things like

therapeutics, which we were discussing, the new treatments that might become available because of... inaudible we had a slight technical issue towards the end but we will plough on because i am nothing if not persistent and hopefully it will sort itself out. can i ask about the relationship between government and scientists? ministers tell us every day they are following the science. when you were prime minister, you had the foot and mouth outbreak. how much of the decisions taken by the prime minister are about the science and how much about political judgment, what is the balance? yeah, it's a difficult one, this. it is not quite as either or as people think. basically, in the end, the centraljudgments are political judgments but you should take the fa ct judgments but you should take the fact you are basing that on, all the assumptions or judgments you

fact you are basing that on, all the assumptions orjudgments you are basing those political judgments assumptions orjudgments you are basing those politicaljudgments on, you should take those on the basis of the scientific and medical advice. for example, if the scientific and medical advice is we haven't suppressed enough, we are not ready to ease the lockdown, you have to take that advice. it would be rash not to. on the other hand, how you ease the lockdown, do you do it with schools, do you do it with age, geographic sector or not? you will base that on evidence but it is still going to in the end be a politicaljudgment. ultimately, still going to in the end be a political judgment. ultimately, this is why this is such a complicated problem. i have never seen a more difficult challenge than this and i have every sympathy for people in government who are trying to handle it, because you can be sure with hindsight people will say it should have been done differently. but nonetheless, i think ultimately, the big judgments will be political but you shouldn't challenge... you should interrogate the scientific advice and the medical advice but you shouldn't challenge it if it is clear. the sunday times reported

yesterday that boris johnson missed five cobra virus meetings injanuary and february. michael gove said yesterday that wasn't fair reporting because a prime minister doesn't routinely attend all those meetings, they are led by the relevant secretary of state who would then report to the prime minister. from your experience, is that fair? look, i try to avoid going back over what's happened in the past because that gets you into criticism of the government. ijust don't that gets you into criticism of the government. i just don't want to be in that game because i know how difficult it is for all of them. people ask me, were there any cobra meeting you ever miss? the frank a nswer meeting you ever miss? the frank answer is i can't remember with this distance of time. if you have cobra it's because it's a serious emergency. i'm sure the government, the people in government have been doing everything they possibly can. i think the most important thing is not who is doing theirjob well and who is doing it badly, it's whether you have the right combination of

skills at the centre of government to handle some of these things. if you take for example protective equipment, that is gowns and masks and the things that the front—line medical staff need, and the things by the way we all may need as we go back to work. that is, yes, of course, you need the government system but there is a skill that is better found in the system but there is a skill that is betterfound in the private system but there is a skill that is better found in the private sector thanit better found in the private sector than it is in the public sector. my issues are really around how you position government, not going back over who should have attended what meeting. we can get to all that at a later stage. right now, meeting. we can get to all that at a laterstage. right now, i meeting. we can get to all that at a later stage. right now, i think we have to focus on the future. that is really interesting, there are some people who say now is not the time and there are others who say if now isn't the time, then when? there are front—line workers who are not receiving ppe and they are having to make a decision about whether they go to work and do theirjob and put their own lives at risk without

sufficient and adequate ppa. how would you describe the fact workers are having to do that? it is terrible, of course it is. our front line nhs staff and the people in care homes... they have been unbelievable, magnificent. yes, of course, they've got to have the protective equipment. i guess what i am saying is, let's make sure they now get it and the government has now get it and the government has now put someone specifically, someone now put someone specifically, someone from the business sector, in charge of this. we need to acquire it from where ever we can in the world and we also need to be producing our own. some of these things to produce, they are not hugely complicated but you need to mobilise the private sector to do it. all i am saying is, of course, it. all i am saying is, of course, it isa it. all i am saying is, of course, it is a terrible situation that they don't have the stuff they need to now but let's concentrate our energy right now and getting it to them. we talked about the economy earlier. when we come out of this, the uk will have a huge deficit, potentially 200 billion, perhaps

more. far larger than we saw during the financial crisis of 2008— 09. how should it be paid off, in your view? well, the best way to pay it off is to stimulate as much economic activity as possible. 0ne off is to stimulate as much economic activity as possible. one of the things you learn in government is if your economy is growing 2—3%, your exchequer is very happy. there is a lot of revenue coming in. if your growth rate even drops i%, so you are ina growth rate even drops i%, so you are in a technical recession, then all of those figures go down. so, in the end, you will have to have a combination of things. but the difference between an economy that's growing and an economy that's not is the critical factor in whether you are able to pay for it or not. that is why, as i say, it's so important that we get these measures in place so that we can get as much economic activity going as possible. if you just take, for example, the hospitality sector. at the moment,

think people would find it... i'm not sure even if you opened it up, people would go back into a restau ra nt people would go back into a restaurant or a cafe or a pub or so on. on the other hand, if you just think of all that economic activity idle, all those people not having their wages paid, all those businesses not being able to survive, you have to find a way, ultimately, that you can start that type of normal life again. you may have, i know countries that have opened up their restaurants in a small way and they have put a whole lot of restrictions on it but at least there is some economic activity. so, really, this is the importance of getting the easing from this lockdown done in the right way, because ultimately, the only way, because ultimately, the only way you will pay this bill is by economic activity finally returning to normal. the sooner you are able to normal. the sooner you are able to get to a near normal, the better. you said you don't want to criticise the government, you want to look to the government, you want to look to the future but i want to ask you,

how do you think the government has handled this? well, i think if you talk to people and government themselves, i think what they'd say is, in the period of the initial start of the disease and the period between the start of the disease and the suppression, i think most people would accept the government was somewhat behind the curve but it is easy to say that with hindsight. i think people would probably accept that even in government. that's why it's important that the next phase, which is the managed and controlled revival has to be done right. there, i think it is now very clear what the different elements are that you need to get right and you've just got to do it. but it requires, i think, you know, we'vejust got to imagine what the world is like, as you ease that lockdown. so you are going to be starting some activities in some way and then you've got to be trying to add others to it and then you will have to watch the whole time to see whether there is

another outbreak that happens and then how you suppress it again. here's what we're finding, when you look around the world other countries: sometimes that is working quite well. sometimes, for example in singapore, they started to open back up again and they have had another spike in cases. you have to be incredibly careful as to how you do it. this is why tracing, notjust testing but tracing is very, very important. there will be technology that allows us to be able to trace people effectively who may have the disease or may be able to tell you when you've been in contact with someone when you've been in contact with someone who has had the disease. but you are also going to need manual tracing. you will need teams of people that are able to go out into areas that make sure that if there isa areas that make sure that if there is a further outbreak, that it is properly controlled and then suppressed. these are the things that i think we have to think about now. so, yes, ithink if that i think we have to think about now. so, yes, i think if you look back, you can say ok, things could have been done better but it is easy to say that. i think what's

important now is that we've learned a lot, we will be learning a lot more about this disease in the weeks to come. but there is preparations that need to be made absolutely right now. and i don't... inaudible handle a debate that says right now you have a lockdown but let's look at what easing looks like. not that it's the moment to do it but in order... inaudible you can... inaudible finally, the technicals have beaten us finally, the technicals have beaten us in the end but we have had a good conversation, good length of time for talking about the issues. we are very grateful for you giving for talking about the issues. we are very gratefulfor you giving us for talking about the issues. we are very grateful for you giving us that time. sorry about the technicals right at the end, they just time. sorry about the technicals right at the end, theyjust beat us. tony blair, thank you for talking to us. tony blair, thank you for talking to us. as he said, never seen a more

difficult challenge for a government. his desire is to look forward and the various areas that need perhaps an individual figurehead too, in his view, push the country forward when it comes to ppe or mass testing or whatever it may be. an "aggressive" antibody testing campaign is to begin in new york next week to see how many people have had the virus. the state accounts for nearly half of the 40,000 deaths from coronavirus across the united states, but officials say the outbreak is now "on the descent". it's not yet clear whether people who have antibodies for the coronavirus are immune from catching it again. in the uk officials have said the tests are not reliable enough for mass use. the number of virus—related deaths in the united states has risen by almost 2000, taking the total past the 40,000 mark. president trump gave an update on how the us is tackling the coronavirus pandemic. america continues to make steady progress in our war against the virus. as of today, we've tested

4.18 million americans, that's a record anywhere in the world. the united states has now conducted more total tests than all of the following nations combined — france, the united kingdom, south korea, japan, singapore, india, austria, australia, sweden and canada. in other parts of the us, hundreds of people gathered for anti—lockdown demonstrations. in colorado, protestors blocked the streets with cars, while healthcare workers in scrubs and face masks stood in the road in counterprotest. germany will today begin relaxing some of its restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, allowing small shops and some schools to reopen. the german authorities announced last week that the infection rate had slowed and the outbreak was under control. however, as deaths are still continuing to rise, they have increased testing and recommended the wearing of face masks in shops

and on public transport. new zealand's prime minister has said the country's lockdown will start to ease from next week. at a press conference, jacinda ardern said some schools and businesses will be allowed to open, but social distancing measures will still apply, with people told to stay home where possible. because we believe that decisive action, going hard and going early, gave us the very best chance of stamping out the virus. and it has. we have done what very few countries have been able to do — we have stopped a wave of devastation. at least 16 people, including a policewoman, have been shot dead in canada. the suspect, dressed as a police officer during a 12—hour rampage. it's thought to be one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country's history. matt graveling has more.

dressed as a police officer, he posed as a protector — even driving around in a marked car. but instead, 51—year—old gabriel wortman took a gun and started killing innocent people. siren. his 12—hour rampage began on saturday night, leaving bodies at a number of different locations across nova scotia. police first became aware of the shootings after reports of firearms being used. tragically, one of those sent to help became a victim of the attack. it's with tremendous sadness that i share with you that we have lost constable heidi stevenson, a 23—year veteran of the force, who was killed this morning while responding to an active shooter incident. heidi answered the call of duty and lost her life while protecting those she served. police were first called to a residence in the rural town of portapique. they located several casualties, but not the suspect, gabriel wortman. an overnight search for wortman led police to a number of areas,

including some where structures were on fire. they asked people to stay indoors, posted the gunman's believed location online and said he may be wearing a royal canadian mounted police uniform, despite not being employed by the service. the canadian prime minister began his regular briefing on coronavirus to focus on the shooting. before we get started, i want to touch briefly on the unfolding events in portapique, nova scotia. i know we've all been watching this on the news. my hearts go out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation. i want to thank the police for their hard work and people for cooperating with authorities. police said the suspect was driving what appeared to be a police car before changing to another vehicle. on twitter, they notified people of the car's registration. and then, just before midday on sunday, police informed people that following a car chase, gabriel wortman was dead. they added, as his victims were killed across nova scotia, authorities were still trying

to establish the final death toll. matt graveling, bbc news. the weather in a moment. if you want to get in touch with us today, you are welcome, send us an e—mail or you can message me on twitter. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. as we go into this new week, for many of us, there is going to be a lot of dry weather around. today, what we've got is thicker cloud across the channel islands and south—west england producing some spots of rain. that will move away and we've got a lot of blue skies. temperature wise, ranging from 10—14 down this east coast, where it will feel cold with a brisk easterly wind. inland, there is a brisk easterly wind as well, but the further west that you are, the higher the temperatures will be. 0vernight tonight, we hang onto that wind. more rain comes in across the channel islands and south—west england. cold enough for a touch of frost in sheltered glens across north—east scotland and also sheltered parts of north—east england. any cloud that forms overnight,

for exa m ple west wales, the pennines and southern scotland, will quickly melt away tomorrow, leaving another dry day with a lot of blue skies. the cloud and rain pushing away from the channel islands and south—west england. but in the brisk wind, still cool down this north sea coast — the highest temperatures still the further west you travel. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. more warnings from hospitals in england over shortages of personal protective equipment — some say supplies of gowns are critically low. it comes after a delivery of protective equipment from turkey was delayed. ministers call on all companies to do their bit to help bolster supplies. i would urge any companies that feel that they have not had a response from government or have got that capacity to continue

to come forward. we are working with companies across the board. scientists are looking into whether blood from covid—i9 survivors could be used in a new treatment for those infected. from this morning, businesses can apply for grants to cover 80% of the wages of staff who have been temporarily laid off. and germany is relaxing some of its lockdown measures from today — with the outbreak there now said to be "under control". we're with you on bbc one until ten when daily kitchen live takes over, and we carry on, on bbc two. hundreds of thousands of people across the uk should have received letters telling them that they are vulnerable to coronavirus and need to shield themselves. however, there have been various issues with these letters, including in wales where 13,000 letters were sent to incorrect addresses. we can talk now to suzanne craft

who has lupus and asthma, and received a letter addressed to her late husband. and i'm alsojoined by drjonathan leach who isjoint honorary secretary of the royal college of gps. suzanne, what was reaction to the letter which wasn't for you? i was devastated because he died five years ago from lung cancer. and iam five years ago from lung cancer. and i am getting on with my life, although i do have lupus, asthma and although i do have lupus, asthma and a heart problem, and i expected the letter to be for me and when i didn't get one, what is going on? the government website told you to contact your gp, where they are able to help? no, they haven't had any information about it, they have not heard anything from the government to direct their patients to get the letters at all. 0bviously, letters at all. obviously, you need it because it is

confirmation you do need to shield for 12 weeks and it can help with other things, explain that. i think other things, explain that. ithinka other things, explain that. i think a few have had one of those letters a nd i think a few have had one of those letters and you are registered, you can get access to supermarket shopping, online shopping, and who nice for how long this will go on —— who knows. 0ne nice for how long this will go on —— who knows. one of my lupus friends works in a gp surgery and she hasn't had a letter although she has copd as well and she was told by her doctor, her gp whom she works for u nless doctor, her gp whom she works for unless she gets the letter, if she wa nts to unless she gets the letter, if she wants to shield, she will have to go on 12 weeks's sic which you can't afford to do. doctorjonathan leach, afford to do. doctor jonathan leach, there afford to do. doctorjonathan leach, there are issues with people not receiving letters. it sounds like suzanne should have done but it must have been difficult to get the system up and running for so many. it isa

and running for so many. it is a very conjugated system. what the chief medical officer is having to do is build the list from three separate sources, from to do is build the list from three separate sources, from an to do is build the list from three separate sources, from an extraction from gps's computer systems, hospital records, and using our professionaljudgment hospital records, and using our professional judgment as gps. hospital records, and using our professionaljudgment as gps. there isa professionaljudgment as gps. there is a list you would be able to take off the shelf so to speak. having to do that, and 12 weeks is quite a significant ask for people. it is for those at the greatest risk. a lot of it is dependent notjust on conditions people have but also what medicines they are on. let us take asthma as an example. at one extreme you might have someone with asthma who might have mild asthma, maybe exercise induced asthma, and that diagnostic code would go right the way through to somebody with the most difficult asthma that might be

in hospital, had lots of admissions, and in that case, it would be by the medication they are taking rather than diagnosis. it is a complicated system, that is true. what should people like suzanne do? there has been a lot of information sent out via the four health authorities, in england, and the equivalent in the devolved nations, to gp surgeries, and the royal couege to gp surgeries, and the royal college of gps has been providing support. the information is there and if it is and has concerns, she should speak to her gp. she already has. i would go back again. what we are finding, i have spoken to quite a number of patients. some people think they should be or shouldn't be on the list, there have been a few didn't think they should be whereas i have advised because of their own complicated medical history that

they should. for suzanne and others in similar conditions, go back to the gp again and say what? just say, question weather or not you should be on the list. for the majority of people, what we would be saying is they should stringently social distance. particularly those with kidney or liver disease. they are different from shielding. to ask someone are different from shielding. to ask someone to stay at home for 12 weeks isa someone to stay at home for 12 weeks is a huge ask for people. suzanne, you will have to ring them again. i will do. i again. iwill do. i have again. i will do. i have not been out of the house for six weeks as soon as i saw what was happening in the world, i knew my lupus if i got an infection it could be very dangerous. i have not been out but i will ring the gp again. they haven't

an idea what to do with it when i rang before. you are being sensible but you do need that letter because then you get the priority for online shopping. let me know what happens, thank you very much, take care. maybe you have found yourself in a similar position, do send me an e—mail. organisations representing nhs trusts have criticised the government after a delivery of protective equipment was delayed, suggesting ministers should stop making promises they can't keep. the government had said that an 84—tonne consignment of clothing designed to shield staff from coronavirus was due to arrive from turkey yesterday. and a group of gps has criticised the lack of ppe for their surgeries as "shambolic". the body representing every gp in kent and medway says not a single practice has received adequate

supplies and says national guidance "seems to be partly motivated by a shortage of ppe". we can now speak to one of those behind the letter, dr gaurav gupta, chairman of the kent local medical committee. and professor mike grocott is in the front line in intensive care and is from the royal college of anaesthetists. welcome, both of you. doctor gupta, first of all, what is the situation for gps first of all, what is the situation forgps in your first of all, what is the situation for gps in your area? thank you for having me on the show. the situation is not very good. we are hearing from various practices they are running very low or have at some point in the last few days run out of adequate pb. we want the right pv in line with the who guidelines be made available to practices, but to all health care

staff so they don't have to compromise their safety when caring for patients. why do you describe it as shambolic? the issue you raised before this section started grand promises not kept. we want honesty. we need clear plans adhered to. there is a distinct lack of trust in the system when you speak to health and social ca re when you speak to health and social care star. we need honest answers, people to say what has gone wrong and how do we rectify it. it doesn't instill trust if things keep changing in terms of guidance on a regular basis which leaves us confused. you are referring i think to the fa ct you are referring i think to the fact that you say that guidance is motivated at the moment by the shortage of supplies, explain what you mean? even in the last few days you heard there is an advisor some ppe could

be reused. a few look at what is being provided to the front—line staff, we would like to be advised in line with the best evidence and science, not the availability of ppe. we can understand there is an issue because of a global shortage but can work around it but we want the guidance to be about safety and there logistical issues should be honestly dealt with by the government so we have trust in the system. professor mike grocott who has been in isyou, what you think about that, that the new guidance you have received regarding the fact you have received regarding the fact you can reuse some of these gowns is to do with it shortage? do you agree? good morning. i had to say i do agree. we are not aware of the evidence that underpins these new recommendations, and the impression is that they are based in

pa rt impression is that they are based in part on imitations of supplies rather than what is in the best interests of healthcare workers. if that is the case, what do you think of that? it isa think of that? it is a concern and we are very aware our members are very it is a concern and we are very aware our members are very concerned about this, and they are experiencing shortages and are concerned for their own pads —— personal welfare and it may sound selfish, but that is a concern for their patients because we start to have members, doctors and nurses going off sick in increasing numbers, there are substantial numbers, there are substantial numbers already off sick, if we lose that work for us! a workforce across anaesthesia and intensive care, that will be significant. have you run out of ppe or our supply still coming to you? have collea g u es supply still coming to you? have colleagues run out of sufficient ppe? where i am, we have not run out but

we have got pretty close. i am aware of colleagues who have run out of particular items. and certainly, we are starting to have to alter behaviour a little bit around the shortages in gowns in particular. what you mean by altering behaviour? a few what you mean by altering behaviour? afew imagine what you mean by altering behaviour? a few imagine over a shift there are various different clinical environments you need to visit and you may be called from one to the other because of emergencies. each time you transition, sometimes you can get between two of them without changing but frequently you have to. so, every decision to do something ina different so, every decision to do something in a different environment is a further use of ppe. there is no doubt we are trying not to intervene as much as we can and because of conserving ppe in one area we may be choosing not to do procedures in another area that would also require

ppe for a large team. this statement from the department, we are working round the clock to ensure pb is delivered. every single gp practice has received a delivery and the nhs works closely with practices in kent and medway to support them to access appropriate equipment. we publish clear guidance setting out the safest levels to protect health care workers, developed in collaboration with the academy of royal colleges and in line with who advice. we have delivered 1 million pieces of equipment so far and there is a 24—hour helpline where workers can call to report supply disruption. have you had need to call that hotline and if so did it work? i haven't personally, i am aware as a hospital we are leaning on all the available options including the

hotline and reaching out to other places where we can purchase ppe. cani places where we can purchase ppe. can i ask you both, a few were in a position of not having the right equipment but needing to help, looked after and treat a patient with coronavirus, would you consider weather you should refuse to treat that patient? mike grocott first of all?” that patient? mike grocott first of all? i think what we are seeing is not, it sounds like a binary decision and it really is. what we are seeing is alterations in behaviour to minimise the use of ppe. there are very few situations where i would imagine a doctor not offering treatment to an individual patient in a moment of extreme distress, although one can imagine situations that would be in

focus. i do not think that is what we we re focus. i do not think that is what we were dealing with. we are dealing with alterations in the style of delivery of care that mean we might not do as many things as we did previously. we might choose not to review a patient three times and evening but twice because there simply isn't the resource for us to use the ppe. which could have an impact on the health of that patient. those types of things. to have an impact on the health of patients. what about yourself, doctor gupta? the royal college of nursing gave advice to members last week that as advice to members last week that as a last resort if they did not have the right or sufficient ppe, they could as a last resort not to treat a patient. ido a patient. i do not think we should dissociate the two things, they are closely

related. it would be extremely u nfortu nate if colleagues related. it would be extremely unfortunate if colleagues had to make that difficult decision between choosing between their own safety or looking after patients. we would all wa nt to looking after patients. we would all want to do our best and provide care. it is extremely unfortunate we are having to have these discussions because we do not have access to adequate ppe. that is all we want, to be safe when we go to work so we can do our best for our patients. what you think about how the government is handling this? the main feedback i would like to give to the government is just be honest and be candid with the problems we face. that makes for a much better grounds for working together to make sure we can solve these problems. when we are hearing conflicting and changing guidance on a regular basis, that becomes more ofa a regular basis, that becomes more of a problem of trust which is what we are dealing with here, people do not trust they will be protected

when looking after their patients. what would your message bead to the government, professor grocott? i echo those words. clear communication and honest communication and honest communication is really important. all that we want to do is deliver the best care we can. but if we are putting ourselves at risk and therefore potentially the integrity of the system at risk, that puts us ina very of the system at risk, that puts us in a very difficult situation. clear communication and honest communication and honest communication is the best we can ask for ina communication is the best we can ask for in a very difficult situation. by for in a very difficult situation. by honesty, you mean, if the advice has changed because we are short of a particular piece of equipment, for a particular piece of equipment, for a period, then they should level with you and say you have to reuse them until we get some more? asa them until we get some more? as a clinician speaking personally thatis as a clinician speaking personally that is useful to know, you can make a personal risk assessment about the fa ct a personal risk assessment about the fact you might choose to do that but

you know there is a slightly different situation from using ideal ppe. i think all of us would like to have that information. thank you very much and thank you for all the work are doing. for many pupils and students, today should have been the start of a new school term. instead, millions of parents are once again getting to grips with home—schooling. so, what can we do to make sure children get the right education? john maguire has been finding out. it is back to school but not as we know it. hi, i'm nat. i'm dan. our children are... fred and noah. and how has home—schooling been going for you? it is tough. it is a learning curve for us. every day is a school day notjust for the children but for you as well? absolutely. yeah, some things are taught

differently so we are learning. mr and mrs reynolds or dad and mum, really, have beenjuggling running a business, a household and a home school. how have you found it? harder than you'd thought or what? it is really hard. it is notjust the teaching. it is the juggling of work and life with that. and obviously the boys they think we are off school and we can do what we want, lay around and watch telly all day but they are not supposed to be off school so we have to teach them. many children of key workers have remained at school over the easter holidays so today may not prove that different. for the staff at these hub schools, keeping children of varying ages engaged and simulated is a challenge. we started off with a summer camp and focusing on the children's well—being and their social, emotional and mental health. lots of fun activities,

lots of arts and craft. as we move forward, the staff are planning their weeks, linking into the children's interests and more curriculum—based work. but the children need that structure, and too much free play, too much loose work — the children don't benefit from that — they need that close structure. only once schools reopen will staff have a chance to assess the impact of their pupils' progress. it is feared children from disadvantaged backgrounds will be affected most so a clear plan to catch up... we know that nothing can compensate for those relationships between teachers and their pupils, so, again, planning for when schools reopen and how that catch—up is going to be achieved. for those able to take advantage, technology and resources can help like never before. today, the bbc is enhancing its online educational content and, when the school bells do ring once again,

whenever that may be, it will mean we are notjust getting back to school but also back to normality. john maguire, bbc news. last week, john callow, a businessman from manchester, told us his company could go under after he didn't qualify for one of the government's business loan schemes. take a look. how anxious are you feeling right now, john? i am quite anxiousjust because myself, like a lot of other small businesses, they live from day to day, week to week. and although we greatly appreciate what has been announced and appreciate it takes time to set up, it is the amount of time. every day is more worry and stress, really, for our future and finances. straight after that interview, i got a message on twitter from a businessman who said he wanted to helpjohn.

he said, "i will personally give him this loan at zero interest. we all need to do our part". i replied, are you totally legit, how can you afford it? apologies for all the questions. i put them in touch and what happened next? let's talk tojohn again. how are you? thank you for having me back on. i put you and this mystery businessman who is allowing us to identify him only as brian come in touch, tell us what happened. basically, we had a short phone conversation, he asked me about my business and what i did, about the problems i have been having with the loan, and in terms of my turnover since the crisis unfolded and he said, how much would i need? isaid i don't need a fortune, ijust need a bit of money to keep me going so i

can focus on adapting and not worry about what will happen in the future. basically, he said, how much you need? future. basically, he said, how much you need ? i future. basically, he said, how much you need? isaid probably £5,000 future. basically, he said, how much you need? i said probably £5,000 at most. he said, ok, i'll let you have that. he said i will what was your reaction? i was amazed and obviously very happy and grateful. just come and couldn't find the words, i couldn't believe this stranger i had no connection to whatsoever wanted to reach out and help. thank goodness he was watching at the right time when you were on. i spoke to him after. he said, i have spoken tojohn, i think he is on a path to something special with his business. he was looking for less than the government threshold. this was a gift of good faith with no expectations from my side. as i told him,i

expectations from my side. as i told him, i have been fortunate in my career and specifically people who had taken career and specifically people who had ta ken effect career and specifically people who had taken effect on me and on the right thing. i encourage anyone to think what they can do for one person for one business, and if we collectively do that we can make things better for all of us. collectively do that we can make things betterfor all of us. is collectively do that we can make things better for all of us. is this 5k, it is the difference between you current on or going under. it means i can pay my bills and stop worrying about the future and focus on my students. events were a small pa rt on my students. events were a small part of a business, the other side was teaching wine and spirits qualifications. without the classroom setting, some of that is difficult. i am able to post student packs to them and workbooks and keep in touch with them by e—mail but pa rt in touch with them by e—mail but part of that is testing skills which is hard to do without being in the same room as a student. this allows me now to look into ordering some bottles a nd me now to look into ordering some bottles and some wine and look at putting them in a box and shipping

them out with guidance and a video they can follow as they are tasting along. it helps me focus on my stu d e nts along. it helps me focus on my students and turned my attention to helping them. we can see plenty of wind behind you, the name of your business, that is good branding. what else does the business do?” brand tasting events. to learn about wine, tasting things they might not have had a chance to before. throw ina bit have had a chance to before. throw in a bit of information and learning so they go away happy and confident buying their own favourite tipple in future. the other side was teaching formal qualifications in wines and spirits if they want to go down that path. what would you like to say to brian through the medium of television? thank you so much, i am extremely grateful. 0ne thank you so much, i am extremely grateful. one thing i would say is

to the banks and that is, be more compassionate. behind all these applications and red tape, there are real people who are worried about their future, real people who are worried about theirfuture, so, show a bit of compassion. we are not asking for loads of money, in most cases, just a bit to keep us going so we can adapt and look forward to reacting in the future rather than worrying about our day—to—day finances. thank you, good luck. we wish you all the luck in the world for the future of your business. now, it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. for many of us for the next couple of days we are going to be looking at blue skies but there is also a keen easterly wind and that is taking the edge off temperatures particularly along the east coast. and that won't actually ease until we get to mid—week. we also have a weather front which is coming out of france producing all this cloud, across the channel islands, south—west england, also some splashes of rain.

as we go through the afternoon that will continue to move away. so, lots of us seeing blue skies. gusty winds as well, gusting 35, maybe 40 miles an hour. 45 with exposure. that's a cold wind coming in from the north sea. along the north sea coastline especially, it will feel cold with temperatures between ten and 14 degrees. move further west, we have 16 in glasgow, 19 in cardiff. through this evening and overnight, we still do have clear skies, still that brisk wind, and a weather front looks like it will come back bringing more cloud and rain into the channel islands and south—west england. it will be cold enough in sheltered glens in the north east of scotland and north east england for a touch of frost. tomorrow, there will be a lot of sunshine. some cloud to start with, in wales, the pennines, southern scotland. that won't last long. it will burn away quite quickly in the sunshine. we still have this keen wind. at the same time we will lose the cloud and rain

from the channel islands and south—west of england and it will brighten up. top temperatures, 18 or 19 degrees. as we move into wednesday, the high pressure dominates our weather, begins to weaken, the isobars slacken, so it's not going to be quite as windy. it won't feel as cold. during the course of wednesday, we have a lot of sunshine. it will be a cold start under clear skies, maybe even some patchy mist and fog but that won't last very long. with the lighter winds, it will feel better. a bit more cloud in wales, northern ireland, possibly western scotland. the odd spot from that, but not much more. a top temperature of 22. on thursday, a lot of dry weather, but again, cloud towards the west with a few splashes of rain. thursday could be the warmest day of the week for some, we could see 24, maybe 25 in the south.

this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. more warnings from hospitals in england over shortages of personal protective equipment. some say supplies of gowns are critically low. it comes after a delivery of protective equipment from turkey was delayed. ministers call on all companies to do their bit, to help bolster supplies. i would urge any companies that feel they have not had a response from government and have got that capacity, do continue to come forward. we're working with companies across the board. scientists are looking into whether blood from covid—19 survivors could be used in a new treatment for those infected. from this morning, businesses in the uk can apply for grants to cover 80% of the wages of staff who have been temporarily laid off.