A PLANE carrying 10 million face masks and additional PPE equipment for frontline NHS workers landed at Prestwick Airport at the weekend.

The essential protective equipment, as well as infusion pumps for Intensive Care Units and coronavirus collecting kits for use in health laboratories, landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport from China on the morning of Saturday, April 18.

The airport was selected to handle the crucial flights thanks to its superior freight handling facilities.

AirBridgeCargo, one of the world’s leading all cargo airlines, operated this flight in conjunction with freight forwarders JAG-UFS Group.

Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee said:“Scotland’s health and social care system is facing unprecedented demand.

“Protecting staff working on the frontline 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.

Jim Miller, Director of Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities at NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), said: “This delivery is the result of a painstaking collective effort.”

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