Scottish Care has confirmed a decision by the four biggest suppliers of PPE to prioritise the NHS and social care in England is leading to reduced supplies in Scotland.

A UK Government document states it has made arrangements with seven wholesalers to supply PPE to care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission, which only covers England.

Scottish Care, which represents independent care home and home care providers, says it has seen a “major decrease” of supplies coming into Scotland.

Even when protective kit is available, the body’s members are reporting “astronomical” price increases.

On the website of one of the suppliers listed by the UK Government, healthandcare.scot has found that rolls of polyethene aprons for sale are only available to operators in England – and not Scotland or Wales.

Gompels Healthcare Limited, based near Bath, says on the website that the restrictions have been placed on them by Public Health England.

The company states it has been told there are alternative routes for Wales and Scotland "but we have not been able to find out what they are".

At her daily covid-19 briefing today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was extremely concerned at reports of supplies being diverted to England, saying it would be “unconscionable” for Scotland not to be part of a four nations UK supply programme.

Earlier the national clinical director for NHS Scotland, Professor Jason Leitch, called the claims ‘rubbish’.

Then this afternoon the health secretary Jeane Freeman tweeted that she had received assurances that neither NHS England nor Public Health England had asked suppliers to divert orders away from Scotland.

In a statement, Scottish Care's CEO Donald Macaskill reiterated that PPE needs to reach carers without delay or risk not only endangering the health of carers and the people they are supporting, but also care staff’s confidence, making them too fearful to come to work.

Dr Macaskill continues:

“Care home and home care providers have traditionally ordered PPE from various suppliers and sources. Yet the four largest suppliers in the UK have stated to our members that they are prioritising PPE for England, the NHS and English social care providers.”

“Whilst there are other suppliers in Scotland, these sources are at their absolute limit and orders are said to be fulfilled at the earliest by July.

“Scottish Care has been working hard to resolve these issues, escalating concerns and making it clear that PPE issues need to be addressed urgently.  As part of this, we are in regular constructive dialogue with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and her office.

The Scottish Government has set up an NHS call centre that providers can ring if they need to get PPE.

Dr Macaskill added: “We would like to commend the staff working tirelessly in this Triage system, as well as local communities who are offering supplies such as goggles and visors to the care sector. 

“But more needs to be done and we hope that within the next few days there will be a significant change to the levels of PPE available to care homes and the care at home sector.”

On Wednesday evening the Scottish Government issued the following statement. A spokesperson told us:

"Scotland has our own pandemic stock held by the national procurement organisation National Services Scotland (NSS) and distributed by the Scottish Government and NSS, rather than through private distributors.  More than 13 million items of PPE have been distributed since we launched a PPE helpline last month for registered social care providers, including care homes, and we will continue to work with providers to ensure that, if they do not have sufficient supplies through their normal routes, we are able to meet that demand.

“We expect all suppliers to continue to provide regular orders to care homes in Scotland and have been assured by the UK Health Minister that they have placed no restriction on such supplies.”

 

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