Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Urgent Needs

Northumbria Local Resilience Forum (NLRF)

As at 14 September 2020

The Department for Health and Social Care have put in place a new website allowing the health and care system to order from a central inventory.

Please note: it will be expected that you have undertaken steps 1 and 2 under the 'Accessing PPE Supplies' section below within the last 48 hours before you access the new system.

Accessing PPE Supplies

1.    Normal supply chain

You must try to obtain your PPE from your usual supplier or wholesaler in the first instance. A list of additional suppliers you can try is given below. Organisations are expected to undertake their own due diligence before using any of the suppliers below.

Most distributors are open Mon-Fri, 8/9am - 5/6pm (varied); * indicates preferred contact method.

2.   Mutual aid

Seeking support from your local colleagues. This may be from existing networks that are already established, such as within a chain of pharmacies, or networks that have already been established by organisations in your sector.

3.   Department of Health and Social Care PPE Portal

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has put in place a PPE Portal allowing Healthcare providers to order from a central inventory. The PPE portal can be used by social care and primary care providers to order and receive critical coronavirus (COVID-19) personal protective equipment (PPE). The Portal can be accessed below:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ppe-portal-how-to-order-emergency-personal-…

Who Can Use the PPE Portal 
You can only log in and place an order if you have received an email invitation to register. The PPE portal can be used by:

• GPs
• residential social care providers
• domiciliary social care providers
• pharmacies
• dentists
• orthodontists
• optometrists
• children's care homes and secure homes
• children's residential special schools

If you’re a provider in one of these categories, your invitation to register will be sent to your email account registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS Business Services Authority (BSA), NHS England or the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

When to Use the PPE Portal

The PPE portal is an emergency top-up system.

You should continue using your business-as-usual and wholesaler routes to access PPE. You should only use the PPE portal for additional PPE if needed and quantities available to order are set out on the website.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ppe-portal-how-to-order-emergency-personal-protective-equipment

4. National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR)

The National Supply Disruption Response 24/7 helpline 0800 915 9964 is still available if you are not able to get PPE from your usual sources. This is a freephone number in the UK. They may be able to supply emergency and small kits, for example 100-200 units of each type of PPE.

You will need to supply the following information during your call:

• name, email and telephone number of the requestor
• name, email and telephone number of a contact for the next 24 hours (for example out of hours cover if the original requestor will be unavailable)
• delivery address, including postcode; and named contact for receiving deliveries
• confirmation that your organisation can receive the delivery outside of normal business hours 
• number of COVID-19 patients being treated (confirmed and suspected) 
• number of beds in your organisation (if appropriate) 
• details of your current stock situation
• how long your current PPE stock provides cover for (for example less then 24 hours; one to two days, or more than two days) 
• which products you are requesting and in what quantity

The NSDR is focused on fulfilling emergency orders, for example orders required in less than 72 hours. They do not have access to the full lines of stock but they are able to mobilise small priority orders quickly. 

5.   NLRF Emergency PPE Kit

• Northumbria LRF may be able to provide you with a small amount of emergency stock providing that:
• You operate in Newcastle in one of the following type of services:
  • adult social care, care homes, home or domiciliary care and supported living;
  • personal assistant;
  • children's homes, secure children’s accommodation, residential special school or other children’s care service;
  • mental health community services
  • court officers
  • police
  • mortuary and funeral services.
• Your employees currently have close, unavoidable contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case;
• You will not be able to continue to provide services without receiving a top up of PPE within the next 72 hours;
• You are ineligible to register on the PPE Portal;
• You are unable to source emergency PPE from the National Supply Disruption Response helpline. 

Provider’s that meet the criteria above and need urgent access to PPE should complete the form below

Emergency PPE Request Form

The delivery will be shipped with whatever products can be fulfilled (for example, partial fulfilment). Raising a request does not guarantee that it can be resolved immediately.

Please note, there is an expectation that providers will collaborate with each other to assist in the provision of PPE and that the above route is for emergency and immediate need only.