Care homes in London to get 48 million masks, gowns and gloves from council purchase

Care homes across London are to receive 48 million items of PPE, regardless of whether the homes are council-run, thanks to a purchasing drive led by Ealing Council.

To avoid an over-reliance on government support for PPE - which has led to insufficient and poor quality PPE delivered to councils - £15.5 million will be spent on PPE over the next 12 weeks by London Councils, which represents 32 London boroughs and the City of London.

The London-wide buying effort is based on a supply chain set up by the West London Alliance - a group of councils in Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Brent, Fulham and Hammersmith, Barnet and Harrow.

The Alliance have already been collectively buying PPE and have distributed nearly 10 million items of PPE since the start of the pandemic with the help of London’s firefighters.

Cllr Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council and spokesperson for the West London Alliance, said: “I’m proud that the great work of the West London Alliance and Ealing’s procurement team has been recognised and that we are now buying on behalf of the whole of London vital PPE for our fantastic frontline care workers”.

The announcement of the large purchase comes as more than 40 per cent of care homes told the Alzheimer's Society, they are still worried about getting enough protective equipment.

The massive purchase of PPE aimed at protecting care workers and care home residents from the coronavirus, is to be bought from the UK and abroad.

The councils hope to benefit from their economies of scale and ease the strain on PPE supply lines caused by surging global demand.

Cllr Ray Puddifoot, London Councils’ executive member for health & care, said:“Boroughs are acting quickly and decisively to boost PPE supplies and ensure equipment gets to those who need it most.

“London’s social care is on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis and boroughs are working flat out to protect vulnerable Londoners and the heroic social care staff supporting them.

“This new partnership means all boroughs will benefit from improved access to PPE, helping London care homes and other local services get the equipment they need.”

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