An appeal has been launched for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be donated to NHS doctors and nurses on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
MedSupplyDriveUK (MSDUK) Scotland – a volunteer group of NHS doctors, medical students and allies – is the organisation coordinating the response.
The group are looking for FFP3 masks, FFP3 respirators, FFP3 mask fit testing kits, non-latex gloves, goggles, medical gowns, visors, and hazmat suits.
In their appeal message, MSDUK Scotland said: “A large number of industries and businesses have PPE that is not urgently needed right now.
“We are identifying and asking these organisations and businesses to donate their PPE to frontline healthcare staff, and we will help coordinate the collection, sorting and redistribution of these.”
Among the industries identified that could provide PPE are research labs, engineering departments, construction companies, the beauty industry, TV and film production, and electronics/machinery manufacturers.
Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers in England which represents hospital trusts, told BBC Breakfast there were concerns about a shortage of PPE in some hospitals.
He told BBC Breakfast: “The NHS has had about 10 weeks to prepare and actually the vast majority of preparations have gone extremely well.
“There is a range of personal protective equipment that needs to be delivered at the front line… nearly all of that material is flowing in the way that trusts would like.
“The bit where there’s a particular problem was gowns, where we know that over the last 72 hours some trusts have run critically low on gowns.”
For more information about the MSDUK Scotland campaign, visit the website https://www.medsupplydrive.org.uk/scotland
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
