PPE: TODAY’S THREAD: 2k MORE body bags ordered at new factory that’s never made them. Paramedic ‘knows what hell looks like & I’m worried’. Importer: 'borders closing and we have no internal supply’. US Health expert ‘there has been global failure in leadership’ Read(1)

A UK manufacturer I know v well contacted me to say he has his first ever order for body bags. 2,000 units. Retooling their facility to fulfil order as they're needed ASAP. He’ll do everything he can and hoping to manufacture from Weds. More evidence of shortages. (2)

In the last day I’ve had 3 more garment and textile manufacturers saying they’ve furloughed workers and the govt is paying their wages for machnists to be idle. They could be in the factory making PPE and not relying on China shipments and charity from Germany (3)

ANOTHER UK MANUFACTURER: “2.5 weeks ago my company offered to make ventilator parts at our facility for the NHS (MAJOR HOUSEHOLD NAME) it took them 12 days to get us the blueprint so we sat doing nothing” (4)

People are concerned about how long the borders will remain open to bring in PPE. At the moment we’re relying on this fractured supply line with soaring global demand. If it slows completely - then what? We’ve still not finalised UK manufacturing. (5)

GARMENT IMPORTER: “The borders are closing it's getting harder & harder to source the fabric and countries are not allowing medical PPE out - Turkey for example, Bulgaria. The mask and automatic PPE cutting machines are made in China, 4 week delivery”. Should've acted earlier (6)

UK bodies representing manufacturing feel like giving up. “They just quote Burberry at us and think it’s perfect.” The feeling is no one talking to manufacturers and UK expertise is being ignored. I’ve spoken to lots of them - incredible people and British businesses! (7)