Coronavirus: RAF On Standby To Deliver Delayed PPE From Turkey

The RAF is on standby to fly 84 tonnes of personnel protective equipment (PPE) into the UK for frontline medical staff fighting coronavirus, the Government has announced.

The shipment, which includes 400,000 surgical gowns, was due to arrive in the UK from Turkey on Sunday afternoon. The reason for the delay is unknown. 

A Government spokeswoman said: “We are continuing to work to ensure the shipment is delivered as soon as possible.”

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, told the BBC that healthcare staff were getting through approximately 150,000 surgical gowns every day.

Health bosses said the shipment would provide only enough PPE to last a few days.

The delay has been described as "devastating" by the British Medical Association.

Recent military efforts have seen NATO allies cooperating to deliver critical supplies to those in need, across the globe.

Alongside medical resources, expertise and hospital space have also been shared between member nations of the alliance.

Last week, 250,000 pieces of PPE were flown into RAF Brize Norton from Turkey. 

More than 16,000 people have now died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK. However, that figure does not include those who have died in care homes.

Cover image: Military personnel unload a delivery of equipment from Turkey at RAF Brize Norton earlier this month (Picture: MOD).