Sixty million items of PPE distributed in NI since Marchpublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 30 April 2020
In his opening remarks Liam McIvor outlines that the Business Services Organisation (BSO) procures good and services on behalf of the Department of Health.
He says there are four warehouses across Northern Ireland from which it ordinarily operates.
He says the "BSO does not routinely supply to independent providers" and usually only "provides a limited range of medical devices to GP practices".
Mr McIvor says Northern Ireland has been a "beneficiary of UK mutual aid" that has come about through the principle of "joint working".
In terms of ventilators, Mr McIvor says BSO "procures ventilators on behalf of the Department of Health".
He adds that as of February 202, "we have sources 146 ventilators through local and national supply routes" with a "further 494 ventilators on order".
He says "dialogue with the Republic of Ireland has continued throughout Covid-19 but to date the Republic of Ireland has not been able to share supply of ventilators".
Image source, Getty ImagesTurning to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Mr McIvor says there are normally stocks of PPE held by the BSO to support normal working, however he says there has been a significant increase in demand.
He adds that "not all areas have same requirements of PPE" and that "BSO distributes and procures to central points".
As of 24 April, he says the BSO has issued 12.6m items of PPE TO trusts and GPs.
He says that figure compared to the number of weekly items delivered in 2019 - of 1.45m.
Mr McIvor adds, "from 1 March 2020, 60m items of PPE" have been distributed for use "throughout health and social care and in independent and community sector".
He adds, "at present, PPE is a sellers market and demand outstrips supply".
