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ASOS clothes factory is producing up to 5,000 scrubs a week for frontline NHS staff

An ASOS clothes factory is making 5,000 scrubs per week in order to fuel the increasing demand for personal protective equipment for health workers amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

Clothes manufacturer Fashion Enter, based in Haringey, north London, is among the manufacturers that have taken to producing scrubs for frontline NHS staff.

The factory, whose clients include ASOS.com, M&S and John Lewis, have been producing the mass amount as the country continues to control the spread of Covid-19 which has now claimed the lives of 6,227 people in the UK. 

The ASOS clothes factory Fashion Enter, based in Haringey, north London, has been producing scrubs for frontline NHS staff

The ASOS clothes factory Fashion Enter, based in Haringey, north London, has been producing scrubs for frontline NHS staff

Workers at the factory have been making scrubs and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers on the frontline

Workers at the factory have been making scrubs and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers on the frontline

The increased demand for medical scrubs comes as the UK continues to control the spread of Covid-19

The increased demand for medical scrubs comes as the UK continues to control the spread of Covid-19

CEO Jenny Holloway, whose company like many other manufacturers have seen a decrease in orders from retail clients, told the BBC that she had applied to the Cabinet Office to offer her company’s services to the NHS.

She told the BBC: ‘We have lots of single ladies and disabled staff. We can furlough them but they want to work and be part of this effort.’

Today scenes from inside the factory showed staff cutting, sewing and stitching fabrics together.

The company, which typically manufactures up to 7,500 units a week with a minimum order quantity of 300 units, has now switched its production in order to cater for the thousands of health care workers treating patients amid the pandemic. 

The increased effort to provide for the country’s NHS staff comes as Kate Hills, founder of the trading platform Make It British, said the government needed to start looking at local suppliers and not rely on importing goods from abroad.

She told the BBC: ‘Everyone in the whole world is looking for the PPE (personal protective equipment). 

‘We need to look at local suppliers and mobilise supply here.’  

Factory staff working for Fashion Enter have switched their production line in order to cater for the health care workers on the frontline

Factory staff working for Fashion Enter have switched their production line in order to cater for the health care workers on the frontline

A member of staff at the Fashion Enter factory irons medical scrubs as clothes manufacturers try to produce more personal protective equipment

A member of staff at the Fashion Enter factory irons medical scrubs as clothes manufacturers try to produce more personal protective equipment

Workers inside the Fashion Enter factory have been mass producing scrubs for National Health Service staff

Workers inside the Fashion Enter factory have been mass producing scrubs for National Health Service staff

The increased demand for scrubs comes as British Medical Association today warned that the lives of doctors were being put in jeopardy due to a lack of PPE.

A BMA poll of 2,000 medical staff revealed that 69 per cent of doctors did not feel protected while trying to control the spread of Covid-19 while others felt pressured into coming in contact with infected patients without the necessary equipment.

The results of the poll also showed that 27 per cent of staff reported their NHS trust was running low on basic supplies such as soap. 

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the BMA’s council, said: ‘In less than three days, nearly 2,000 doctors across the UK have told us how desperate their situation really is.

‘Despite assurances from the Government that personal protective equipment is making its way to the front line, this snapshot survey reveals a very different picture – healthcare workers in the UK simply do not have enough protective equipment to keep them safe.

The company, which typically manufactures up to 7,500 units a week with a minimum order quantity of 300 units, has now switched its production

The company, which typically manufactures up to 7,500 units a week with a minimum order quantity of 300 units, has now switched its production 

Factory workers at the London-based firm produce thousands of scrubs for the medical staff helping to treat patients with coronavirus

Factory workers at the London-based firm produce thousands of scrubs for the medical staff helping to treat patients with coronavirus

A member of staff at Fashion Enter helps makes scrubs for NHS staff as doctors continues to face a lack of PPE

A member of staff at Fashion Enter helps makes scrubs for NHS staff as doctors continues to face a lack of PPE

The increased demand for scrubs comes as British Medical Association warned that there was still a lack of PPE

The increased demand for scrubs comes as British Medical Association warned that there was still a lack of PPE

‘We are weeks into the most serious health crisis this country has faced in modern times and doctors are telling us they don’t have any, or don’t have enough, protective equipment.

‘Until now, we have been hearing anecdotal stories about shortages or a lack of PPE. This survey confirms the extent of this failure.

‘Doctors report being put into situations which clearly contravene the PHE guidance issued last week.’  

The scenes come as the nation continues to control the surge in coronavirus cases which has now hit 51,608.

Today health officials also confirmed that 6,227 people in the country have now died from Covid-19.   

The ASOS clothes factory switched its production line in order to cater for the NHS staff needing PPE

The ASOS clothes factory switched its production line in order to cater for the NHS staff needing PPE

A factory workers wearing gloves and a mask helps produce scrubs for medical staff on the frontline

A factory workers wearing gloves and a mask helps produce scrubs for medical staff on the frontline

The factory has been helping to assist the NHS by making scrubs for staff treating patients with Covid-19

The factory has been helping to assist the NHS by making scrubs for staff treating patients with Covid-19

 

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