A MEDIC-led campaign for PPE donations is targeting Scotland’s whisky industry in a bid to save lives.

MedSupplyDriveUK - Scotland has appealed to the country’s businesses for spare masks, respirators, gloves, goggles, surgical gowns and more.

The new initiative, founded by NHS surgical trainee Gillian Higgins less than ten days ago, helped get more than 8000 pieces of kit to frontline NHS staff in its first week. Now, it’s targeting distillers as the donation drive continues. A spokesperson said: “We need to continue pushing as hard as we can in order to raise awareness, support and generate the level of donations we require to adequately support frontline staff and patients.

“This is only the beginning so we need all the help and support we can get.”

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The project was inspired by Lochaber group CovidGo, which supplied all frontline workers in the local hospital and community teams with “high quality” protective gear, as well as the work of MedSupplyDriveUK, which focuses on England and Wales.

The whisky sector has achieve massive growth in the last few years, with new distilleries opening up around the country. The big-money industry is already supporting the anti-coronavirus crusade through the production of alcohol-based sanitiser.

But the Scots group hopes it will also provide localised donations of PPE to hospitals and surgeries – and says firms in all sectors can play a part. A spokesperson commented: “Organisations, businesses and individuals across Scottish industry have the high quality PPE the NHS currently desperately requires and many have had to down tools during this outbreak. Their expertise in PPE routinely saves lives from hazardous substances, and through their generous donations we hope to apply their wealth of knowledge and equipment during this crisis, to save lives in the NHS.

“No matter how big or how small, all donations of these essential supplies will make a massive difference and help save lives.”

For more information, visit www.medsupplydrive.org.uk/scotland