Hubs to distribute additional PPE to care sector staff

New arrangements have been put in place to ensure everyone, who provides social care, paid staff or volunteers alike, has access to protective equipment.
PPE provision for unpaid and family carers and personal assistants has been welcomed by COSLAPPE provision for unpaid and family carers and personal assistants has been welcomed by COSLA
PPE provision for unpaid and family carers and personal assistants has been welcomed by COSLA

Local hubs are distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to the care sector where normal supplies have failed, including family carers and personal assistants.

Supplies of PPE have been under enormous strain during the coronavirus epidemic so the Scottish Government is using some of the national stock to help more people get hold of the equipment they need.

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Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The Scottish Government values the importance of everyone who is providing social care and we want to ensure they have access to appropriate PPE.

“As we respond to the challenges from global scarcity of PPE, we have worked with partners to agree an improved model that will ensure all social care providers have access to supplies from national NHS stock.

“This has only been possible because of a shared aim to ensure the right PPE gets to the right people at the right time and to keep everyone safe.

“In the coming weeks, we will collectively monitor how this model is operating, identifying challenges quickly and taking action as we deal with the evolving nature of the pandemic.”

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COSLA health spokesman Councillor Stuart Currie added: “COSLA welcomes this announcement which will ensure PPE provision for unpaid and family carers and personal assistants.

“Local Government has worked with partners across the sector to develop this model to ensure those who are supporting vulnerable people within their communities and all parts of the workforce have access to the PPE they need.”