Call for Welsh Firms to Create PPE for Frontline NHS Staff

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Welsh Government , 7th April 2020

First Minister Mark Drakeford has issued a call to action for Welsh businesses to create a new Welsh supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support NHS and social care staff.

Many Welsh companies and universities are directly engaged in addressing specific challenges relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

The First Minister is calling for those willing and able to come forward to create a new made-in-Wales supply chain for PPE.

More than five million items of PPE, including eyewear, gloves, aprons and facemasks, have been delivered to frontline health and care staff from pandemic stocks in recent weeks – over and above the normal supplies available to the NHS.

Deliveries have been made to GP surgeries, pharmacies, and to local authorities to be sent to every care home in Wales.

New guidance has been issued in the UK, which simplifies when health and social care staff should use PPE. The new guidance will increase demand for PPE across the UK.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said:

This is a time like no other – as a nation we must stand up and respond to the huge challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

I want to thank the many businesses and manufacturers in Wales who have already made offers of help to produce PPE and other equipment. We are responding as quickly as we can to the offers we already have, but we want and need more.

I am calling on companies to help our NHS and produce much-needed PPE products which will be vital for our frontline staff.

Welsh business has an important role to play in delivering the products needed.

The Royal Mint has adapted its operations to produce protective visors, which will supply the NHS in Wales as a priority, and others as manufacturing increases.

Merlin Circuit Technology in Hawarden, part of Merlin PCB Group, is helping the national effort by manufacturing ventilators and CPAP products at its base in North Wales.

Merlin Circuit Technology’s director Mike Potter said:

We’re pleased to be able to offer our technical and manufacturing experience to assist in the prototype and large-scale production of printed circuit boards in the effort to beat coronavirus.

This is only possible with the support of the entire supply chain, from which we have had a phenomenal response, and with the continued efforts of those and our staff, we will do our upmost to continue to supply products in the fight against the virus.

We are very proud of everyone working at Merlin and the ongoing commitment to continue to attend work throughout this concerning time. They are working around the clock in order to produce the PCBs as quickly as possible to help in the supply of thousands of ventilators, CPAP and oxygen monitoring systems – which will literally save people’s lives.

Life Sciences Hub Wales is asking industry to support efforts to combat the virus by coming up with new solutions in areas such as infection control, sanitisers, and medical devices, as well as developing new approaches to address the challenges of social isolation and loneliness.

Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates said:

The response and offers of help from companies has been extremely positive and it’s vital that more businesses and individuals who are willing and able to help do so.

The First Minister’s call is one I want to see Welsh firms grasp and do all that they can to support our nation in a time of crisis.

More than ever we need innovative thinking to be at the very forefront in developing the products which can make such a huge difference.

Wales has an abundance of talent and people with fantastic skills, and, together with academia and the Welsh Government, we can all play our part in coming up with the very best solutions to beat this virus.

Businesses and individuals who want to help can visit www.businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice for further information and advice. This includes a dedicated page for PPE.

Mae Mark Drakeford y Prif Weinidog wedi galw ar fusnesau yng Nghymru i greu cyflenwad newydd o Gymru o gyfarpar diogelu personol (PPE) i gefnogi staff y GIG a staff gofal cymdeithasol.

Mae nifer o gwmnïau a phrifysgolion Cymru yn gweithio’n uniongyrchol ar roi sylw i heriau penodol yn ymwneud â’r pandemmig coronafeirws.

Mae’r Prif Weinidog heddiw’n galw ar y rhai sy’n barod ac yn abl i gamu ymlaen i greu cadwyn cyflenwi newydd yng Nghymru ar gyfer PPE.

Mae mwy na 5 miliwn o eitemau PPE, gan gynnwys cyfarpar llygaid, menyg, ffedogau a masgiau wyneb wedi’u darparu i staff iechyd a gofal rheng flaen o stociau y pandemig yn yr wythnosau diwethaf – llawer mwy na’r cyflenwadau arferol sydd ar gael i’r GIG.

Mae cyflenwadau wedi dod i feddygfeydd meddygon teulu, fferyllfeydd ac i awdurdodau lleol i’w hanfon at bob cartref gofal yng Nghymru.

Ddoe, cyhoeddwyd canllawiau newydd yn y DU, sy’n symleiddio pryd y dylai staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ddefnyddio’r PPE. Bydd y canllawiau newydd yn cynyddu’r galw am PPE ledled y DU.

Meddai’r Prif Weinidog Mark Drakeford:

“Mae hwn yn amser na welwyd mo’i debyg - fel cenedl dylem ymateb i’r heriau enfawr a ddaw o ganlyniad i’r pandemig coronafeirws.

“Dwi am ddiolch i’r busnesau a’r gweithgynhyrchwyr niferus yng Nghymru sydd eisoses wedi cynnig helpu i gynhyrchu PPE ac offer eraill. Rydym yn ymateb mor gyflym â phosibl i’r cynigion sydd gennym eisoes, ond rydym eisiau ac angen mwy.

“Dwi’n galw ar gwmnïau i helpu ein GIG ac i gynhyrchu’r offer PPE y mae cymaint o alw amdano ac a fydd yn hollbwysig i staff y rheng flaen.

"Mae gan fusnesau yng Nghymru ran bwysig i'w chwarae o ran darparu'r cynhyrchion sydd eu hangen."

Mae’r Bathdy Brenhinol wedi addasu eu gwaith i gynhyrchu feisorau diogelwch fydd ar gael i GIG Cymru fel blaenoriaeth, ac eraill wrth i’r cynhyrchu gynyddu.

Mae Cwmni Merlin Circuit Technology ym Mhenarlâg, rhan o’r Grŵp Merlin PCB, yn helpu’r ymdrech genedlaethol trwy gynhyrchu offer anadlu ac offer CPAP yn eu canolfan yn y gogledd.

Dywedodd cyfarwyddwr Merlin Circuit Technology, Mike Potter:

“Rydyn ni’n falch iawn o fedru cynnig ein harbenigedd technegol a’n profiad o weithgynhyrchu i helpu i lunio a chynhyrchu byrddau cylched printiedig ar raddfa fawr i helpu gyda’r ymgais i guro’r coronafeirws.

“Er mwyn i hyn fod yn bosib mae angen cymorth y gadwyn gyflenwi gyfan, ac rydyn ni wedi cael ymateb anhygoel. Rhwng yr ymdrechion hynny a gwaith ein staff byddwn yn gwneud ein gorau glas i barhau i gyflenwi nwyddau i frwydro yn erbyn y feirws.

“Rydyn ni’n falch iawn o bawb sy’n gweithio ym Merlin a’u hymrwymiad i barhau i weithio drwy gydol y cyfnod pryderus hwn. Maen nhw’n gweithio’n ddi-flino i gynhyrchu’r byrddau cylched mor gyflym â phosib er mwyn helpu i gyflenwi miloedd o beiriannau anadlu, cyfarpar CPAP a systemau monitro ocsigen – a fydd yn llythrennol yn achub bywydau pobl.”

Mae Hwb Gwyddorau Bywyd Cymru yn gofyn i’r diwydiant helpu gyda’r ymdrechion i herio’r feirws drwy ddod o hyd i atebion newydd mewn meysydd fel rheoli heintiau, hylifau diheintio a dyfeisiau meddygol, yn ogystal â datblygu dulliau newydd i fynd i’r afael â heriau ynysu cymdeithasol ac unigrwydd.

Dywedodd Gweinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a’r Gogledd, Ken Skates:

“Mae’r ymateb a’r cynigion o gymorth gan gwmnïau wedi bod yn gadarnhaol iawn ac mae’n hanfodol bod mwy o fusnesau ac unigolion sy’n fodlon helpu wneud hynny os yn bosib.

“Mae galwad y Prif Weinidog yn un yr wyf am weld cwmnïau o Gymru yn ymateb iddi ac yn gwneud popeth y gallant i gefnogi ein cenedl mewn cyfnod o argyfwng.

“Mae angen i ni fod yn fwy arloesol nag erioed er mwyn bod ar flaen y gad yn datblygu y cynnyrch all wneud gymaint o wahaniaeth.

“Mae gan Gymru dalent aruthrol a phobl â sgiliau anhygoel. Drwy gyfuno hynny gyda’r byd academaidd a Llywodraeth Cymru, gallwn ni i gyd chwarae ein rhan yn llunio’r atebion gorau posib i guro’r feirws hwn."

Gall y busnesau a’r unigolion sydd am helpu fynd i https://businesswales.gov.wales/cy/cyngor-coronafeirws am ragor o wybodaeth a chyngor. Mae hwn yn cynnwys tudalen benodol ar PPE.