‘Significant’ amount of PPE to be made in Scotland

The health service has agreed a new deal that means “significant volumes” of personal protective equipment (PPE) can now be made in Scotland.

Trade minister Ivan McKee revealed details of the agreement, which could provide more than half of NHS Scotland’s current weekly requirement for non-sterile gowns.

Forfar-based firm Don and Low will supply around 2.8 million square metres of the base material required, with this being made into gowns by Glenrothes firm Keela, as well as Redwood TTM Ltd, which is based in Wigan.

Keela will then work with two firms in Livingstone, Transcal and Endura, to deliver the equipment.

The issue of supply of PPE has been key as Scotland tackles the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr McKee said the new supply chain agreement that had been arranged now “means significant volumes of the PPE gowns used in Scotland can be manufactured in Scotland”.

He added that this would help “to protect us from any global supply issues and ensure frontline staff continue to have the protection they need”.

Mr McKee said the deal “also demonstrates what can be achieved when the public and private sectors collaborate to tackle the many challenges caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic”.

The minister said: “The Scottish Government, along with our colleagues at Scottish Enterprise and NHS Scotland, will continue to work with partners across the country to ensure that all frontline health and social care workers have access to the PPE they need.”