British firms agree major PPE deals to supply NHS
FRONTLINE healthcare workers have secured millions more visors, aprons and gowns following a series of deals announced yesterday.
Four new partnerships have been announced with manufacturers to ensure there are no more shortages of life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE).
Lord Paul Deighton, known as the Government’s PPE tsar, said: “The response from our manufacturing industry has been phenomenal and I can’t thank them enough for their continued efforts.”
Ramfoam, in Tividale in the West Midlands, is hiring an extra 100 staff so it can deliver three million visors to the NHS per week.
Peterborough-based Photocentric has agreed to make 7.6 million protective visors over the next six months, while Hereford’s
Elite Plastics will supply 20 million aprons per month.
Cheshire-based Macdonald and Taylor Healthcare will also provide an additional 50,000 gowns-a-week.
However, Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said trusts were not consulted on the new rule for staff to wear surgical face masks and for visitors and outpatients to wear face coverings from June 15.
He said: “It’s the latest in a long line of announcements in which front line organisations feel they have been left completely in the dark and are then expected to make significant and complex operational changes with very little notice.”
Dr Rob Harwood, chair of the BMA consultants committee, said: “Given the lack of PPE supplies throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, it is crucial that the Government ensures there are enough supplies.”