The government has announced it will extend free provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the health and care sector for protection against COVID-19, until March 2024 or until stocks are depleted.
The Government has published further information on when it is expected to run out of specific types of PPE, you can access this information here.
Last year, it said free personal protective equipment would be available until the end of March 2023.
The scheme aims to support the government’s COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 strategy during a challenging period of global inflation and cost of living pressures.
The continued provision of free PPE for COVID-19 will:
- Protect frontline healthcare staff, the elderly and vulnerable
- Reduce pressure on the NHS
What PPE is available?
The aid takes the form of free distribution of clinical or medical-grade PPE, consisting of gloves, masks, eye protection, respirators, aprons and gowns.
Who is eligible for free PPE?
The beneficiaries of the PPE scheme include health and social care providers.
The health and social care activities covered by the scheme include:
- General medical practice activities
- Dental practice activities (including orthodontic activities)
- Residential care activities (both adult and child)
- Social work activities without accommodation (but not including child day care activities, which do not involve an element of social care)
Further Information
Free Personal Protective Equipment Scheme
New online system launched for ongoing provision of free PPE for care staff
Free PPE extended for health and social care providers
See guidance and further information about accessing free PPE and the PPE portal, including order limits for individual sectors and the products available to each sector.