Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's guidance on the use of personal protective equipment, whether (a) naso-gastric or (b) naso-jejunal tubes are classed as an aerosol generating procedure; and what advice his Department took to reach this decision.
Placement of naso-gastric and naso-jejunal tubes are not currently categorised as aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). The evidence around AGPs is being kept under review and the evidence review is led by Public Health Scotland.
The Department’s expert advisory committee on New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) members and invited experts are assessing the evidence base for medical procedures which create a higher risk of respiratory infection transmission from patient to healthcare worker. A rapid evidence appraisal has been conducted to assess the risk of patient to healthcare worker infection transmission associated with a wide range of potentially aerosol generating medical procedures. An updated evidence review and the position on the presented evidence review from NERVTAG is awaited.