MILLIONS of face masks and vital supplies for the NHS have been flown into Scotland on a charter flight from China – as more revelations emerge about the cross-border kit row.

The cargo, which landed at Prestwick Airport yesterday morning, included 10 million surgical masks to boost supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Infusion pumps, which are used to deliver fluids and medication to patients in intensive care units, and kits to collect samples of the virus for laboratories, were also on board.

Trade minister Ivan McKee said today’s additional equipment consignment was “significant” and items would be delivered over the coming days. He said: “Protecting staff working on the frontline is an absolute priority which is why we have been working at pace with the NHS and manufacturers both in Scotland and internationally to improve and increase the supply of PPE.”

He added: “In these incredibly challenging times the Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to make health and social care staff feel as safe as possible in their workplace.”

READ MORE: Firm at centre of PPE row says it WILL deliver to Scotland

Jim Miller, director of procurement, commissioning and facilities at NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), said it was working 24/7 to source and supply PPE. He said: “This delivery is the result of a painstaking collective effort involving multiple partners working together to provide our NHS and social care colleagues with the PPE they need to keep them safe.”

Stewart Adams, chief executive at Prestwick Airport, said: “While the coronavirus pandemic has meant the vast majority of commercial aircraft has been grounded, we’re continuing to operate our specialist freight-handling services in order to play an important part in supporting Scotland’s key workers during this difficult time.”

Over the last five to seven weeks, around 50m PPE items have been delivered to hospitals, the Scottish Government said. Eight weeks supply of PPE was delivered to GPs in Scotland during the week of March 30.

The new cargo arrives after a week in which PPE supply for our hospitals and care homes was in the spotlight like never before thanks to a row over cross-border orders. Donald Macaskill, head of Scottish Care, raised the matter on Monday after some care homes said they had been denied supplies from sellers operating an England-only policy. The matter was investigated by the Scottish Government and Jeane Freeman said she had been given assurances that no such edict had been made to suppliers by English medical authorities.

Today the Sunday National reveals how the problem dates back to at least March 23, when – hours before the lockdown came in and closed practices UK-wide – an Aberdeen dentist met the same England-only response from one of the world’s biggest dental suppliers when trying to buy masks also suitable for care homes and clinics.

Ross McLelland of Waverley Dental said: “I’ll bet serious concerns were being raised by clinicians about lack of PPE and supply chain as far back as January or beyond.”

This newspaper asked the Scottish Government when it had first learned of the sales issues, and if the matter had damaged public confidence.

A spokesperson did not answer that but said: “All dental practices in Scotland have been closed to patients since March 23 with many practice staff giving their time to help with non-dental Covid-19 work.

“As no clinical treatment is being carried out there is no requirement to have PPE stock.”

Meanwhile a team led by Scottish researchers is to examine the response of the Chinese government to the coronavirus outbreak. The study will assess the measures put in place in China to combat the virus, which originated in the city of Wuhan.

It will look over policy documents from the government, as well as Chinese social media and field work in four areas of China – Beijing, Guangdong, Hubei province and the neighbouring Anhui province.

Reported infection and death rates in China have dropped in recent weeks, with some calling into question the reports coming from the Chinese state. Principal investigator Professor Jane Duckett, of Glasgow University, said: “We urgently need to understand Chinese government measures to deal with Covid-19. Rates of infection have slowed down in China but are accelerating worldwide.

“Given the apparent success of Chinese measures, other countries may consider adopting them.

“Yet we do not fully understand China’s measures, which extend well beyond health and clinical management to include policing, travel restrictions and support for businesses, or their effects, both negative and positive.”

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