AHSN Impact Report 2021 | Page 18

Protecting our healthcare workers with a constant supply of PPE

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Barbara Conneely is one of our Programme Leads . As we work towards a Net Zero NHS , Barbara tells us about how she and her team have been working to unveil innovations that not only keeps our healthcare system stocked with personal protective equipment ( PPE ) during a global pandemic , but does so in a way that is cost-effective and reduces the sector ’ s carbon footprint .

Barbara Conneely , Programme Lead
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significantly greater need for personal protective equipment ( PPE ) to protect health and social care staff caring for patients . Since February 2020 , just before the first national lockdown , the Department of Health and Social Care distributed over 9bn items of PPE , predominantly for use by health and social care services in England . But this increase in demand happened on a global scale resulting in subsequent supply challenges to get PPE consistently to the frontline .
12 Transforming Lives Through Innovation