UK Health Minister Appeals For UK Textile Companies To Help With PPE Supply

Image Courtesy of UK GOV

In a tense Downing Street briefing where the focus shifted to UK PPE supply, Matt Hancock, the UK Health Minister asked for any UK textile companies that can assist the government in supply of PPE to get in touch with his office without delay.

Announcing the PPE plan, which has three-strands, one of which is distribution, Mr Hancock said the goal of that “everyone” working in a critical role must get the personal protective equipment (PPE) that they need.

He added there is a “huge international demand” for PPE and a “global squeeze” on supply as he said distribution was a key goal of the plan, but that it would require a "Herculean logistical effort".

"We’ve brought together the NHS, private industry and the army, in fact, the armed forces, to create a giant PPE distribution network on an unprecedented scale,” he said.

Mr Hancock said that since the start of the outbreak there have been more than 742 million pieces of PPE delivered to the frontline.

Mr Hancock said the third strand of the PPE plan is about the future supply.

“We’re using up PPE on an unprecedented scale, so we’re constantly buying more from abroad, and now making it at home,” he said.

In looking forward to UK Textile Companies helping the PPE effort, he thanked companies including Burberry, Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Diageo who are creating gowns, visors, and hand sanitiser.