A charter flight carrying vital personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS workers landed in Scotland yesterday. 

It landed in Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Saturday morning, carrying around 10 million Type IIR fluid-resistant face masks and infusion pumps for Intensive Care Units. 

The plane also delivered an order of virus collecting kits that can be used in health board laboratories. 

The PPE and other essential cargo items were offloaded and on its way to frontline workers within hours of the plane landing.

READ MORE: WATCH: British Army soldiers on frontline coronavirus testing at Glasgow Airport site

Trade minister Ivan McKee said: “Scotland’s health and social care system is facing unprecedented demand.

“Protecting staff working on the front line is an absolute priority which is why we have been working at pace with the NHS and manufacturers both in Scotland and internationally to improve and increase the supply of PPE.

“This charter flight, carrying additional equipment ordered by the Scottish Government, is significant and we will be focusing the distribution of these supplies to health and social care settings over the coming days.

“In these incredibly challenging times the Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to make health and social care staff feel as safe as possible in their workplace.”

The Scottish Government says it has delivered more than 50 million pieces of PPE to hospitals in the last seven weeks, while GPs were given eight weeks’ supply on March 30.

Jim Miller, director of procurement at NSS, said: “This delivery is the result of a painstaking collective effort involving multiple partners working together to provide our NHS and social care colleagues with the PPE they need to keep them safe.

“Together with supply partners and Scottish Government, NSS continues to work 24/7 to source and supply the PPE that Scotland needs to fight COVID-19.”

Glasgow Prestwick Airport was best suited for the freight plane due to its facilities for handling large scale and high volume freight. 

READ MORE: Glasgow Airport accommodates coronavirus testing facility

Stewart Adams, chief executive at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: “While the Coronavirus pandemic has meant the vast majority of commercial aircraft has been grounded, we’re continuing to operate our specialist freight-handling services in order to play an important part in supporting Scotland’s key workers during this difficult time.

"The PPE which we are receiving from China will be processed quickly so that this vital delivery can make its way to those who need it most, as soon as possible.”

Shops are closing. Newspaper sales are falling. But we’ve chosen to keep our coverage of the Coronavirus crisis free because it’s so important that the people of Glasgow stay informed during this difficult time.

To help us get through this, we’re asking readers who can afford it to contribute either £3, £5 or £8 a month to the Glasgow Times.

If you choose to sign up, we’ll also take away all the adverts – and deliver a digital version of the print paper to your device. Click here to help Save Your Times