When will the government stop supplying free PPE to care homes?
As many people within the healthcare sector have been made aware, the government will no longer be providing PPE from the end of March 2024 or whilst stock lasts. We know how important this supply is to care homes and other healthcare environments so we have created this simple guide to to explain when each of the different items is likely to run out of stock.
Will their stocks last till 2024?
The government is going to officially end the scheme in March 2024, however their stock on a lot of lines are likely to run out before then, some even as soon as March 2023 - so don't get caught out! When their stock is completely gone, they will no longer be supplying PPE to care establishments even if this is well before March 2024.
We know that this is disappointing news for you, but trust you have benefitted from it in the difficult Covid period.
Our main message to Care Homes would be, please do not run hand to mouth with your stocks! Have a contingency supply stored outside of your normal storage area, that can be drawn on if the government stocks do dry up quickly, that will ideally keep you supplied for a number of days or even weeks. This should guard against any panic buying which not only causes stress, but can push prices up.
Don't forget that we are here to help you provide a safe care environment - Committed to Care. Below we take a more detailed look at the products that the government will stop supplying and some more specific dates.
Gloves
The government have stated that gloves are expected to run out between March 2023 and March 2024 depending on size and type of glove.
Looking more closely at the Government Stock-out days, we can see that vinyl gloves in all sizes are due to run out in March 2023 – this month! Nitrile gloves in sizes Medium & Large are all likely to be used (in all weights) by May 2023. Small Nitrile stocks should last into June, and Extra Large could be in stock for a while to come – estimated March 2024. Latex gloves in all sizes are expected to last until March 2024. However, will this really be the case or will more clients switch to Latex to take advantage of any free stock for longer meaning that they also run out much earlier?
The use of gloves within the healthcare sector is part of standard precautions to reduce the risk of contamination of blood, mucous, and other bodily fluids. They not only protect your patients but also the carers from infections, and gloves should be worn even if the patient appears healthy. With many materials and sizes available, ensuring you have the correct one's for you is highly important. If gloves are too big then it can become difficult to hold onto objects and it makes it easier for germs to get inside the gloves. On the other hand, if your gloves are too small, they are far more likely to rip.
The Gloves We offer
We can provide your care homes with a range of gloves including:
- Clear vinyl: A single use powder-free glove that is a great alternative for people with a latex allergy.
- Blue vinyl: Generally used in food preparation
- Nitrile (blue and purple): These gloves have superior strength and have better puncture resistance. The texture allows for an easy dry and wet grip.
- Latex: These are a nice glove to wear and have a textured palm to ensure a better grip, but there are a large number of us with Latex allergies.
So, no matter what you require them for, whether it’s for food preparation or personal care, we offer options for everyone in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes.
We have high stocks of all gloves, and are placing orders to import more to ensure we are ready if needed to top up your gloves.
Please contact us for bespoke pricing – our list prices are high as we have to cater for individuals just buying the odd box, but for Care Home Volumes we can offer huge discounts.
Face Masks
Through the government portal, face mask supplies have been said to run out between September 2023 and March of 2024.
Face masks help the wearer to not spread large droplets of germs when coughing or sneezing. They can also help reduce viral transmissions. At CLH, we can provide you with a range of face masks including Type IIR, FFP2 and FFP3 Valve Respiratory Face Masks.
Type IIR
This is a disposable face mask designed to fit perfectly to the contours of the face. It contains a splash resistant layer to help protect against fluid particles in proximity environments such as care homes. They are CE marked and comply with EN 14683.
Type FFP2
The FFP2 rated protective face mask features a soft inner shell and an adjustable nose clip for added comfort.
Type FFP3
The FFP3 face mask creates a facial seal and filters both inflow and outflow of air. Not only do they protect people in the vicinity of the wearer but also the wearer themselves due to the updated design. For added comfort, it also features an adjustable nose clip.
View our Face Masks!
Aprons
The government have added to their list that aprons will be running out between March of 2023 and March 2024, depending on type, colour and size.
Aprons offer protection from splashes, spills, and other liquids. We offer them in a range of forms for easy dispensing including on rolls and flat packed. They are disposable after a single use to help prevent cross contamination in your setting. To help with easy access of getting these aprons, we also offer dispensers that can be mounted to any wall. They both feature a halter neck design and a tie waist for security.
Disposable Gowns
The government expect gowns to run out anywhere between May 2023 and March 2024.
We can provide you with a unisex blue disposable gown for use in all healthcare sectors. It has an open back design and is suitable to protect both wearers and patients. This is an isolation gown that is fluid resistant to shield the user from bodily fluids. Ensuring spillages do not come into contact with skin, the polythene gowns are easily wiped or disposed of accordingly. This single use long sleeve gown comes with neck hole, thumb loops & ties.
Want an even more detailed breakdown of dates? View the entire list on the government website here.
