SOLDIERS have been drafted in to help test personal protective equipment (PPE) for nurses at four hospitals in and around Glasgow.
The Scotland-based chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) instructors are helping staff at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as part of measures to protect frontline workers from coronavirus.
A group of 20 soldiers are helping test the fit and functionality of the PPE for doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants across the health board.
The hospitals are Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon to set out options for easing lockdown restrictions
Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said: "The soldiers are part of the MoD's support to the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland in our battle against coronavirus.
"Today this sees 3,000 military personnel deployed to support the civil authorities across the UK.
"Our tasks include military personnel providing specialist planning and advisory roles across the Scottish Government, liaising with each of Scotland's 14 health boards, providing additional helicopter airlift capacity for patients in remote and island communities, and being part of the multi-agency teams providing drive-through testing centres at Scotland's airports."
The soldiers are from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots) in Penicuik and the 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 Rifles) in Edinburgh.
Support in testing PPE will run initially until May 17.
It comes after military personnel also supported the creation of the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here