1 minute read
PM holds call with manufacturers on production of medical equipment
The Prime Minister has spoken to over sixty of the UK’s leading manufacturing businesses and organisations to call on them to help the UK step up production of vital medical equipment, such as ventilators.
The Prime Minister made clear that responding to coronavirus and reducing the spread of the peak requires a national effort. He asked manufacturers to rise to this immediate challenge by offering skills and expertise, as well as manufacturing the components themselves.
Businesses can get involved in any part of the process: design, procurement, assembly, testing, and shipping.
Boris Johnson held a call with more than sixty manufacturers to discuss stepping up production of vital medical equipment, such as ventilators / Picture: Getty/iStock
He set the ambition for industry to manufacture as many new ventilators as possible, so we can all help the most vulnerable and our NHS. The chief commercial officer and commercial director from the NHS has set out the clinical and design specifications. The government will remain in contact with businesses on anything further that the NHS might need to respond to the virus.
Any business who is able to help should get in touch, by phoning the BEIS Business Support Helpline on 0300 456 3565 or visiting: https://ventilator.herokuapp.com.
The Prime Minister thanked manufacturers for everything they have done so far. A number of companies are already engaged in the effort and the Business Support Helpline has received over 400 calls from businesses looking for information on how they can contribute.