Retailer Boohoo slammed by NHS staff after selling ‘fashion’ masks that offer no protection
RETAILER Boohoo has caused fury among NHS workers after selling FAKE face masks as fashion accessories – bearing the official government message, “Stay in. Save lives.”
A horrified nurse contacted The Sun last night after stumbling across the masks, some of which are printed with the words: “Eat, sleep, isolate, repeat.”
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A disclaimer on Boohoo’s website admits that the bandana-like face covering “should not be used as personal protection equipment”.
The capitalisation of the coronavirus pandemic comes as it was revealed that supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers were running out.
A frontline nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous, has called on the retailer to help distribute PPE to the front line instead of flogging “useless fashion masks”.
She told The Sun last night: “Boohoo are selling useless ‘PPE’ fashion masks that are of no use to the public and are using their greed to make a mockery of people on the frontline.”
“I, myself am a frontline nurse and find it appalling that they feel the need to make PPE into a fashion statement when we are struggling with the provision of this in the hospitals. Disgusting!”
She also shared a complaint she sent to the Boohoo Instagram page: “I am so saddened to see that you are making PPE into a fashion statement.”
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“This is no joking matter, people are extremely sick and dying from this horrible illness and you feel it appropriate to sell masks that have absolutely no protection to the public whatsoever.”
“Just for show, and to make more money for yourselves.”
“Maybe, instead of making a mockery of everyone on the frontline and those that are vulnerable and actually need masks to protect ourselves, you should be helping to distribute proper PPE that we are very much struggling to be provided with.”
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SUN readers are today urged to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
Yesterday, we backed a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking readers to sign the petition online at thesun.co.uk/georgecrossfornhs.
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