Telford company with PPE supplier 'ignored by government'

A firm spokesman said its PPE supplier may run out before the government responds

A company with access to supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) says the government has ignored its offer of help.

Telford-based battery makers, AceOn Group, is "disappointed" it has not heard from officials despite telling them their supplier in China can provide PPE within days.

The government said it has received 8,000 supplier offers and is "prioritising" larger volumes.

There is too much red tape, AceOn said.

The company said it first contacted officials three weeks ago offering to supply 3D parts for ventilators and masks, which is was able to manufacture itself, but heard nothing back.

It had still not received a response when it contacted them again three days ago, offering to contact its supplier in China who also produces PPE.

Alex Thompson, of AceOn Group, said it had first contacted officials three weeks ago

The company also posted its offer on social media:

"I'm disappointed to not have heard anything back, we do feel ignored" Alex Thompson, of AceOn Group, said, who admitted the firm would make a "small margin" of profit from acting as middleman.

"I'm worried other countries will snap up all PPE and we'll be left with nothing because of too much red tape in the UK supply chain" he added.

It comes as another firm, based in Birmingham, told the Daily Telegraph that it felt it had been left with "no choice" but to send its PPE to Europe as it said ministers failed to respond to its emails.

Mr Thompson, whose sister is a nurse, said: "Seeing what she is dealing with, I just want the government to make sure frontline staff are getting what they need before it's too late."

A government spokesperson said: "We are incredibly grateful for over 8,000 offers of support from suppliers as part of the national effort to ensure that appropriate PPE is reaching the frontline.

"We are working rapidly to get through these offers, ensuring they meet the safety and quality standards that our NHS and social care workers need, and prioritising offers of larger volumes."

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