Warrington company fly in PPE from China on “NHS” passenger plane

A cargo of PPE arrived in the UK on passenger plane bearing the logo “Thank you NHS” thanks to Warrington based Crest Medical.

The Airbus 340, with boxes strapped into every seat, arrived at Bournemouth Airport yesterday with a cargo of surgical gowns from China .
Warrington based NHS supplier Crest Medical said it was using passenger jets as well as cargo planes in order to “ramp up” imports of protective personal equipment (PPE).
The firm has more than doubled its PPE supplies since January.
Director David Lawrence said the coronavirus outbreak had increased the need for “critical PPE” in hospitals.
He said: “It’s the number of glove changes, the number of gown changes and the number of people using them.”
The company is planning at least five more flights using passenger jets supplied by European Aviation who arranged for the plane to be specially painted with the NHS message.

European Aviation chairman Paul Stoddart said: “We had four of these aircraft in passenger configuration but perfectly ready to go with crews etc.
“Although I hear plenty of criticism around about the government being slow… I can tell you first-hand it’s been a magnificent effort and ministers have been available day and night.”
Crest Medical said the 120,000 newly-manufactured surgical suits were unloaded quickly and moved to an NHS warehouse.
A second flight, bringing 10,000 boxes of gloves from Malaysia, is due to arrive tomorrow, Thursday.