DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has today flown in 100,000 medical isolation full face shields from China to the UK’s East Midlands Airport to support the crowdfunder campaign ‘Masks for NHS Heroes’. The full face shields, which will help protect frontline NHS workers and patients, are being distributed by DHL Supply Chain, the world’s leading contract logistics provider, to 100 locations in urgent need, including care homes, hospices, hospitals, trusts and GPs surgeries.
The campaign to source PPE for frontline NHS staff has so far raised £1.8m, including notable celebrity donations such as £275,000 from actor James McAvoy.
John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express said: “The achievement of the Masks for NHS Heroes campaign and the public support it has received has been astonishing. We’re honored to be able to help with our logistics expertise and global network to get much needed protective equipment to the NHS staff who are risking their lives to protect the public.”
“Through our air cargo fleet and network on the ground in the UK, these vital face shields have gone from, Shenzhen in China and into the hands of NHS staff in less than 24 hours.”
Dr Mona Barzin who co-founded the campaign said: “It’s been so vital to this project to have partners like DHL supporting us. It’s thanks to their contribution that more of the generous public donations can be spent directly on PPE. We have needed everyone to come together to make this happen.
“The amount we’ve raised so far has totally surpassed our expectations, but the need is ongoing. This equipment is not only protecting staff, but also patients by stopping the spread so we’re urging the public to continue donating whatever they can.”
DHL is distributing the face shields to NHS facilities throughout Hull, West Yorkshire, Surrey, London, Scotland, Oxford, Chesterfield, Northumbria, Somerset, Cornwall, Nottingham, West Midlands and East Sussex.
Minister of State for Asia, Nigel Adams said, “Masks For NHS Heroes is doing a fantastic job and our Embassy and consulates are doing everything we can to support the effort.
“We have been working round the clock to purchase frontline supplies and support charitable donations that will help save lives. We are seeking further deliveries as a matter of urgency.”
