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Coronavirus: Suppliers 'not asked' to divert PPE to England Coronavirus: Suppliers 'not asked' to divert PPE to England
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland's health secretary has received assurances that PPE suppliers were not asked to prioritise England over Scotland.Scotland's health secretary has received assurances that PPE suppliers were not asked to prioritise England over Scotland.
Jeane Freeman, along with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, had expressed concern that care home workers north of the border could be losing out.Jeane Freeman, along with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, had expressed concern that care home workers north of the border could be losing out.
In a tweet on Tuesday Ms Freeman said she was grateful for the assurance given by the UK's health secretary.In a tweet on Tuesday Ms Freeman said she was grateful for the assurance given by the UK's health secretary.
But she added that ongoing checks on supplies would continue.But she added that ongoing checks on supplies would continue.
Matt Hancock spoke to Ms Freeman and other health ministers from the different UK nations after a row erupted over who was first in line for personal protective equipment.Matt Hancock spoke to Ms Freeman and other health ministers from the different UK nations after a row erupted over who was first in line for personal protective equipment.
At Ms Sturgeon's daily briefing earlier she had promised to seek urgent clarity on the matter.At Ms Sturgeon's daily briefing earlier she had promised to seek urgent clarity on the matter.
Claims of PPE priority for England surfaced on Monday and came from Donald Macaskill, the head of Scottish Care which is the body representing private care homes in Scotland.Claims of PPE priority for England surfaced on Monday and came from Donald Macaskill, the head of Scottish Care which is the body representing private care homes in Scotland.
He told BBC Radio Scotland the UK's four largest suppliers had said they were not sending to Scotland and instead prioritising "England, the English NHS and then English social care providers".He told BBC Radio Scotland the UK's four largest suppliers had said they were not sending to Scotland and instead prioritising "England, the English NHS and then English social care providers".
The UK government insisted it had not instructed any company to prioritise PPE for one nation over the others.The UK government insisted it had not instructed any company to prioritise PPE for one nation over the others.
A spokesman added: "Through this four nation approach, we're working closely with the devolved administrations to coordinate the distribution of PPE evenly across the UK."A spokesman added: "Through this four nation approach, we're working closely with the devolved administrations to coordinate the distribution of PPE evenly across the UK."
The first minister acknowledged during her Tuesday briefing that there was no clear evidence PPE was being diverted but she wanted to be given "assurances".The first minister acknowledged during her Tuesday briefing that there was no clear evidence PPE was being diverted but she wanted to be given "assurances".
Ms Sturgeon insisted that if the usual supply of equipment to care homes in Scotland was being disrupted then that would be "completely unacceptable".Ms Sturgeon insisted that if the usual supply of equipment to care homes in Scotland was being disrupted then that would be "completely unacceptable".
She told the media: "All parts of the UK right now are facing supply challenges on PPE, indeed this is a global issue.She told the media: "All parts of the UK right now are facing supply challenges on PPE, indeed this is a global issue.
"Any situation where supplies were being diverted from one part of the UK to another without consultation or any sense of co-operation would clearly be unconscionable and unacceptable.""Any situation where supplies were being diverted from one part of the UK to another without consultation or any sense of co-operation would clearly be unconscionable and unacceptable."
Earlier in the day the suggestion of PPE being diverted to England from Scotland was dismissed by the Scottish government's clinical director. In a letter sent following her call with Matt Hancock, Jeane Freeman wrote that she was grateful for his reassurances that neither Public Health England nor the Department for Health and Social Care had required orders be diverted from care homes in Scotland to health services in England.
However, she highlighted one company - Gompels - which stated on its website that Public Health England restrictions meant it could not send supplies to Scotland and Wales.
She said this presented a "contradiction and potential difficulty", and asked Mr Hancock to resolve the matter - which she said could be the result of a misunderstanding - so that Gompels could continue to supply care homes in Scotland.
'We think it's rubbish''We think it's rubbish'
Earlier in the day the suggestion of PPE being diverted to England from Scotland was dismissed by the Scottish government's clinical director.
Prof Jason Leitch, speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, said: "We have looked into it and we think it's rubbish.Prof Jason Leitch, speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, said: "We have looked into it and we think it's rubbish.
"So the companies, and our colleagues at NHS England yesterday when we spoke to them, said it wasn't true."So the companies, and our colleagues at NHS England yesterday when we spoke to them, said it wasn't true.
"There's another element of this though, that the English route for PPE is one of three routes that Scotland has access to PPE from."There's another element of this though, that the English route for PPE is one of three routes that Scotland has access to PPE from.
"So we are in a four-country fight against this virus. Honestly, people might not believe me, but that four-countries' fight is pretty aligned.""So we are in a four-country fight against this virus. Honestly, people might not believe me, but that four-countries' fight is pretty aligned."
In Scotland PPE comes from three sources;In Scotland PPE comes from three sources;
Prof Leitch admitted there had been some issues in getting supplies distributed, in particular to those care homes which had not needed PPE in the past.Prof Leitch admitted there had been some issues in getting supplies distributed, in particular to those care homes which had not needed PPE in the past.
He added that the situation was being sorted "very, very quickly".He added that the situation was being sorted "very, very quickly".
"I'm much more confident than I was even a week ago, that that is now working," said the clinical director."I'm much more confident than I was even a week ago, that that is now working," said the clinical director.
A statement released by the Department of Health and Social Care on Monday said: "PPE supplies are being coordinated at a UK-wide level and allocation made based on clinical need across the whole country, which ensures a planned and coordinated response to this global pandemic."A statement released by the Department of Health and Social Care on Monday said: "PPE supplies are being coordinated at a UK-wide level and allocation made based on clinical need across the whole country, which ensures a planned and coordinated response to this global pandemic."