Delivery of critical NHS supplies

A charter flight carrying essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and NHS supplies has landed in Scotland.

The cargo which included around 10 million face masks as well as infusion pumps for Intensive Care Units and virus collecting kits for use in health laboratories, landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport from China on Saturday morning.

Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee said:

“Scotland’s health and social care system is facing unprecedented demand.

“Protecting staff working on the frontline is an absolute priority which is why we have been working at pace with the NHS and manufacturers both in Scotland and internationally to improve and increase the supply of PPE.

“This charter flight, carrying additional equipment ordered by the Scottish Government, is significant and we will be focusing the distribution of these supplies to health and social care settings over the coming days.

“In these incredibly challenging times the Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to make health and social care staff feel as safe as possible in their workplace.”

Jim Miller, Director of Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities at NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), said:

“This delivery is the result of a painstaking collective effort involving multiple partners working together to provide our NHS and social care colleagues with the PPE they need to keep them safe.

“Together with supply partners and Scottish Government, NSS continues to work 24/7 to source and supply the PPE that Scotland needs to fight COVID-19.”

Background

NHS National Procurement supported by a cross-government team led by the Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation and including the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, NHS Scotland and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland has helped to secure this equipment from suppliers in China.

Masks are Type IIR which are fluid resistant. They will be distributed across health and social care settings. The Virus Collection and Transport Medium (VTM) Kits will be for use within health board laboratories.

Over the last five to seven weeks, around 50 million PPE items have been delivered to hospitals.

Eight weeks’ supply of PPE was delivered to GPs in Scotland during the week of 30 March.

On 10 April the Scottish Government issued a joint statement with the unions and COSLA that explains the position on PPE in social care.

Updated guidance on PPE for health and social care workers was published on 2 April. 

Email address for people to contact if they do not have the PPE they need: covid-19-health-PPE@gov.scot