PPE manufacturing hub opens in Cramlington to create thousands of gowns for NHS

A new manufacturing and distribution hub has opened in Cramlington today to get protective gowns to the NHS.

Plans for the facility were announced by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust when it revealed it was working with other NHS organisations, businesses and volunteers to find ways to boost supplies of gowns for its staff and beyond.

The new facility, leased from local firm Wingrove Motor Company, has been transformed in a matter of weeks and is now home to cutting tables and 18 sewing machines and other essential equipment.

Threading up their sewing machines are 18 machinists, some from Northumbria Healthcare and some volunteers, all stitching around 6,000 gowns a week.

Chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Sir James Mackey, commented: “We have had an unbelievable response from local businesses, organisations and volunteers, and what you see here today is a real testament to them and our teams in the trust.

“To get to where we are now in a matter of weeks - and during such a pressured time - is just incredible. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has enabled us to turn this idea into reality.

“The gowns, which are being produced here, will help to keep our front line teams safe and, by being in control of supply - from design to the front line - we can be more self-sufficient, ensure sustainable supplies going forward and reduce our carbon footprint by keeping production as local as is possible.

“We are going to be living with the virus for some time, so this sustainability is really important, but we also see a future for this beyond COVID-19.

“We are very much part of a wider system and community and what this event has shown is there are opportunities to work together to re-generate local business and provide local jobs - which is vital in these challenging times.”

Dawn Shiel, who is volunteering at the facility, added: “Signing up to be a volunteer has given me back the excitement of life and a purpose again. I am so used to being very busy so it is fantastic to feel useful and productive.

“Both my son and I owe so much to the NHS. My son was very poorly when he was younger and I received excellent care at Wansbeck Hospital a couple of years ago.

“The staff were so compassionate and I am so grateful to them. To be able to give something back by making these gowns is amazing.”

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