Sellafield donates £200,000 of PPE to help NHS

A nuclear decommissioning site in west Cumbria is donating more than £200,000 worth of personal protective equipment to help in Cumbria’s coronavirus response.

Sellafield Ltd, near Seascale, is providing 20,000 gowns which will be delivered to the county’s frontline NHS and social care staff over the next six weeks.

They will be distributed to NHS facilities across the county, according to need identified via the Local Resilience Forum.

Sellafield Ltd Credit: PA

Martin Chown, Sellafield Ltd chief executive, said: “ We all know how vital it is to ensure healthcare workers have access to the right protective equipment to safeguard themselves, their patients, and their families.

“Gowns were identified as being in particular short supply. Our knowledge of the PPE supply chain meant we could quickly establish a reliable route for high quality items via a national manufacturer and a local distributor.

“I’d like to thank the NDA for its unwavering support which has allowed us to balance our contribution to the COVID-19 response with our nationally-important mission to keep the Sellafield site safe and secure.”

On top of the 20,000 gowns, the company and its owner, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), will also donate:

  • 1,562 disposable suits

  • 187 disposable gown/lab coats

  • 4,850 disposable FFP3 masks

  • 102 reusable masks

  • 3,500 pairs of gloves

  • 164 pairs of safety glasses

  • 10 full face visors

Credit: PA

Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Slattery, chairman of Cumbria’s Local Resilience Forum, said:“It demonstrates how key agencies and employers are pulling together during this public health emergency to do their best for our communities and our brave NHS and social care staff.

“Increasing the amount of PPE available will help keep frontline staff safe during the Covid-19 outbreak and help slow the spread of the virus.

“Demand for Personal Protective Equipment will not subside any time soon and any other organisations or businesses which are able to help in the manufacture of this equipment is also invited to support the national effort.

“They will be potentially saving lives.”

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know