A charter flight carrying essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and NHS supplies arrived at Prestwick Airport from China on Sunday morning.
The cargo included 10 million face masks, infusion pumps for Intensive Care Units and virus collecting kits for use in health laboratories.
Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee MSP 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 SNP Government, is highly significant and we will focus on distributing these supplies to health and social care settings over the coming days.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added.
“In these incredibly challenging times, Scottish Ministers continue to do all they 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 Ministers NSS continues to work 24/7 to source and supply the PPE that Scotland needs to fight COVID-19.”
NHS National Procurement is supported by a cross-government team led by the Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation and includes the SNP Government, Scottish Enterprise, NHS Scotland and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.
Masks are fluid resistant. They will be distributed across health and social care settings. The Virus Collection and Transport Medium Kits will be for use within health board laboratories.
Over the last few 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 beginning 30 March.
On 10 April the SNP Government issued a joint statement with the unions and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that explains the position on PPE in social care.
Updated guidance on PPE for health and social care workers was published on 02 April.
The email address for people to contact if they do not have the PPE they need is covid-19-health-PPE@gov.scot
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