Scottish health chief: we're in a global fight to get hold of PPE

The man in charge of procuring PPE for Scotland says the country is in a global fight to get hold of vital supplies.

A cargo of 10 million face masks arrived from China at the weekend.

It is being distributed to health and social care workers across the country, including in hospitals and care homes.

Jim Miller, NHS National Services Scotland director, says they are having to go far and wide in the search for equipment.

He said: "The scale of demand for PPE, and particularly those that arrived [at the weekend], is unprecedented.

"China is the world's largest manufacturer for many of the types of PPE that we're working 24/7 to source in Scotland, and the simple truth is that China is therefore best-placed to deliver the PPE we need, in the fastest time possible and in the quantities we need.

"Our strategy has multiple strands - it's about using every valid source of PPE and leaving no stone unturned to get the equipment Scotland needs to fight Covid-19.

"Regardless of where the PPE comes from, ensuring it's available for those who need it most is our utmost priority.

"We're also doing everything possible to source PPE locally, within Scotland and the UK, and to fast-track new suppliers wherever it's safe and appropriate to do so.

"There are already some strong examples of this with visors and hand sanitisers already coming from Scotland, and other products including masks, gowns and aprons being developed.

"Fundamentally the issue we face is that a massive global demand and a fractured supply chain is placing huge pressure on the availability of key items, particularly the PPE.

"We're strongly supported by the Scottish Government, and the UK is working together very well on a four-nations basis, but the reality is that we're competing with every other country fighting Covid-19, all requiring volumes of product that would've been unheard of a few weeks ago."

Mr Miller says there is "no simple answer" as to how long the 10 million masks sourced at the weekend will last, due to the ever-changing picture.

But he says they are making "really good progress" in making Scotland self-sufficient in sourcing certain key items.

You can hear more from Mr Miller on air throughout the day.