Image: Dreamstime/Vynikal
Consultant Arcadis has led a construction industry drive to deliver a million items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS.
Arcadis was originally tasked with finding 250,000 PPE items over four days for NHS London but in collaboration with more than 40 organisations including Laing O’Rourke, Mace, Network Rail, CBRE and Kelly’s, it was able to quadruple that figure.
Together, the firms donated 150,000 gowns and coveralls, 650,000 masks and 420,000 gloves. A large amount of the PPE went to north London hospitals.
Edel Christie, managing director – buildings, Arcadis said: “There has been an exceptional response from across the industry which we are proud to be part of. We’re now in the process of identifying potential new industrial supply chains capable of supplying thousands more items of PPE for our NHS heroes.”
John O’Connor, group commercial director at Laing O’Rourke added: “We owe an incredible amount to all those working in the NHS to keep us safe. Our project teams across the UK feel humbled that they have been able to support the national effort by sourcing more than 20,000 items of personal protective equipment from the stores on our sites for use by health workers across the country.”
Mark Reynolds, Mace Group chief executive, said: “This critical supply of equipment and protective clothing will help to ensure that frontline health workers are able to work safely. It’s a vital contribution from our sector, and a clear demonstration of what we can do when we all work together. Construction has a key role to play in our response to this crisis, from sharing equipment to delivering much-needed emergency new healthcare facilities across the UK. I’m very proud that we and our supply chain were able to contribute to this fantastic effort.”
