Working urgently to supply PPE

An urgent and immediate task for the AHSN during the COVID-19 emergency has been working rapidly and responsively to help the regional effort across the North in supporting the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other vital supplies.

We have been working directly with the Procurement and Logistics Advisory Cell (PAC) during the pandemic to capture offers of support to the NHS, apply due diligence to ensure they meet requirements, and to identify trends in pressure areas, sourcing potential alternative suppliers. ICS Procurement Leads sit within the PAC structure which enables effective communication and action for regional needs.

PAC is one of 10 cells in the North East and Yorkshire region set up by NHS England and NHS Improvement to support the national response to tackle the spread of COVID-19. It uses national guidance to support NHS organisations working with social care and independent healthcare providers for patients, staff and our population.

We are working jointly with North East and North Cumbria AHSN to ensure region-wide coverage and it is hoped that this partnership will encourage greater local manufacturing, increasing both the resilience of supply chains and overall provision of PPE to the region.

We continue to capture technologies and equipment that are ready for use and/or could be scaled up to assist the NHS in the fight against COVID-19.

Whether you are a healthcare organisation which is struggling to source PPE or an industry supplier which requires help in navigating supply to the region, please get in touch with us to find out how we can support you by emailing us at Covid-19.response@ahsn-nenc.org.uk