Lancashire’s latest - and largest - consignment of personal protective equipment lands in the county

Lancashire’s latest consignment of personal protective equipment is being distributed to social care services across the county after arriving from abroad.
Seven HGVs of PPE have hit the road in Lancashire (image: Lancashire Resileince Forum)Seven HGVs of PPE have hit the road in Lancashire (image: Lancashire Resileince Forum)
Seven HGVs of PPE have hit the road in Lancashire (image: Lancashire Resileince Forum)

Lancashire’s latest consignment of personal protective equipment is being distributed to social care services across the county after arriving from abroad.

The kit is part of an order secured last month, which it is hoped will see Lancashire through a period of between four and six weeks from mid-May – coinciding with the county’s expected peak in Covid-19 cases.

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The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that this is the second shipment in that batch – and more than three times the size of the first.

180 pallets of PPE arrived by plane180 pallets of PPE arrived by plane
180 pallets of PPE arrived by plane

The delivery was made up of 180 pallets of equipment, including three million masks and 946,000 gloves, along with aprons and eye protection. However, it is not clear as yet whether it completely fulfils the expected order.

The kit, largely from China, has now been unloaded and dispatched on seven HGVs to every corner of the county.

It is being distributed to where it is currently most urgently needed – primarily nursing and residential care homes.

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The Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) – the partnership of public, voluntary and private sector organisations leading the county’s coronavirus response – is co-ordinating delivery of the multi-million pound shipment. It was funded by the region’s three top-tier local authorities – Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Kieran Keane, logistics lead for the LRF and chief executive of Lancaster City Council, said he was “proud” of the co-operation which had brought the consignment to the county.

“These supplies will support people working in social care, as they work tirelessly to help some of Lancashire’s most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

“This delivery will massively improve our position in the county, but PPE is still a major priority, both locally and nationally.

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“We are still working to secure local suppliers and more robust supply lines, so that we don’t have to buy in from abroad.”

Lancashire also has access to government PPE supplies. The NHS operates a separate supply chain, but last month, LRF Gold Commander Terry Woods – deputy chief constable of Lancashire Police – confirmed that the organisation’s stocks would be shared with the NHS in the region if required.