Government clears ‘out of date’ masks for use by frontline staff

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said the 1.5 million respirator face masks being made available to NHS staff have been “individually tested” and approved as “safe and valid”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed the masks – thought to have expired in 2019 – have been checked by top health experts and cleared for use.

They are now being distributed to health boards. They were approved by the Health and Safety Executive, Health Protection Scotland, Dr Calderwood and Dr Miles Mack of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland.

Ms Freeman said: “Those masks had expiry dates of June and August 2019 which is why we had not released them until now.

“We had them independently tested

“We had them... tested in order to ensure that they remain safe and valid. HEALTH SECRETARY JEANE FREEMAN

in order to ensure that they remain safe and valid.

“They will be now be issued across those parts of our health service where they are the appropriate protection for staff to use.”

She added that the Scottish Government is “paying very close and detailed attention to the overall stock of PPE (personal protective equipment) for health and social care staff”.

She said: “We have now taken over the ordering and supply of distribution of PPE to social care and care-athome staff and are looking daily at not only the ordering but also what is in the pipeline. As of today we have no shortages in those areas.

“We are increasing the distribution routes and networks in order to ensure the supplies that people need get to where they are needed across the country, including in our remote and rural areas, as soon as possible.”