Coronavirus: Army to distribute masks and protective suits to frontline NHS staff

23rd March 2020

The Army will be brought in to help get deliveries of protective equipment to frontline NHS staff who are battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Hospital trusts have been told they will be receiving deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, safety glasses, gloves, aprons and protective suits “around the clock”.

The Army is being brought in to support the supply chain after NHS staff warned they did not have the correct equipment to protect themselves as they treat hundreds of patients with coronavirus.

Army trucks will deliver the equipment to “all who need it”, health secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday.

Over the last few days, NHS England said “millions more items” of PPE had been delivered to hospitals, ambulance trusts and care homes, among others.

Mr Hancock told Sky News a PPE shipment was sent to every hospital over the weekend and he is making sure “there is a constant flow” but trusts need to let him know if there are gaps.

His announcement came as Boris Johnson considered sweeping new laws to implement a nationwide lockdown after appeals to the public to stay indoors were largely ignored during a sunny Mother’s Day on Sunday.