More than 30 million items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are due to be delivered to Local Resilience Forums in the next few days.
In a letter to council chiefs at the weekend, health secretary Matt Hancock and communities secretary Robert Jenrick vowed to get the equipment to frontline care workers, with deliveries starting yesterday (Sunday 5 April).
The promise comes amid widespread criticism over the lack of protection available. Last week, Mr Jenrick himself described the situation as ‘utterly shameful’.
The secretaries of state described the planned delivery as a ‘significant quantity’ but warned it would still need to be prioritised for the greatest need. They also called on local authorities to designated a single point of contact to oversee the PPE stock, suggesting military planners for the role.
In addition, Local Resilience Forums have been asked to report back their use of PPE on a daily basis in a bid to understand the demand and where best to target resources.
Last week, Mr Jenrick said the Government would not stop until the right equipment had been supplied to frontline workers. He added: ‘We simply cannot and should not ask people to be on the front line without the right protective equipment.’
