Question reference: S5W-33185
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 November 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Scotland doctors are being equipped with "repurposed bin bags" in the place of PPE.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of reports which alleged that bin liners were being repurposed to make PPE aprons. On the same day that these reports emerged on social media, officials in NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) checked and confirmed that these were not bin bags and are in fact PPE. Specifically, these are ‘smock style aprons’ that had unfortunately been mislabelled as white tint polythene bags.
NSS procure a range of aprons that vary in style and design and it may have been the first instance of the practices in question receiving this style of apron. These smock style aprons fully comply with all regulations and have passed rigorous quality assurance.
This is a rare instance of mislabelling and NSS worked with supply partners to remedy the problem as swiftly as possible. Additionally, NSS have said to health boards that if any staff would prefer to have a different style of apron, then a replacement request can be raised through their local board supplies team and an alternative will be provided.