Supply Issues Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Increased Demand Update (ICN 2790)
Important Customer Notice Status Resolved Type Supply Disruption
Ref: 2025 / 2790
ICN Number: 2790
- The NHS is facing increased demand for PPE products due to rising cases of respiratory viral infections, including RSV, influenza, and COVID.
- This has led to local decisions to raise orders for exceptionally high quantities of PPE products for use across hospitals and community settings.
- We are also hearing that some trusts are now running low on push stock, leading to an increase in PPE demand.
- Whilst we have increased stock levels to account for seasonal changes, we are experiencing demand beyond normal winter patterns.
- As a precautionary measure to ensure continuity of supply across all trusts, some products may need to be placed on demand management.
- See our Useful Links section for guidance on infection control for NHS healthcare staff of all disciplines in all care settings.
Customer action required
To help us manage demand effectively and plan deliveries during this time, please follow our guidelines.
Demand Management Guidelines:
No increase in demand
- Order quantity thresholds have been set to meet your usual winter demand.
- Place consistent daily orders to ensure you receive your maximum daily allocation.
- If your allocation is insufficient, please contact Customer Services who can submit a demand management escalation on your behalf for your threshold to be reviewed and/or an injection of stock sent.
Increase in demand
- If you anticipate needing significantly more than your usual winter quantities, you must tell us before placing the order. Please complete a demand capture form and submit to:
Core Admin Support
- This will help us adjust your daily threshold accordingly. Once received, the detail will be input into our database, and you will receive written confirmation that it has been done.
- See our Downloads ▼ section to access the demand capture form.
- For urgent needs, please contact Customer Services before placing your order. This will allow us to fully understand your requirements and enable us to plan demand and deliveries and prevent wider impact on national supply.
If you are ordering a new product that you have not ordered before, or you plan on switching product, to help ensure your order is fulfilled, please complete a demand capture form and submit to us prior to placing the order:
Core Admin Support
See our Downloads ▼ section to access the demand capture form.
If there are changes to local Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidelines and practices, including changes in mask usage, please let your ICS Manager or Customer Services Advisor know straight away. This will help us maintain appropriate flow of products on a national basis.
How we’re supporting
We continue to work with our suppliers to ensure continuity of supply of PPE products.
See our Downloads ▼ section to view the regularly updated product matrix of affected products with alternatives.
Please contact our Customer Services team for any support or queries related to demand management and orders.
All future updates will be provided on this ICN which will be updated, as a minimum, on a fortnightly basis.
Latest updates:
- The supply issue with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is now resolved.
- BWG85086 will be delisted once the remaining stock is depleted.
- All other product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue.
- This ICN is now closed.
- Demand for PPE has returned to business-as-usual levels.
- We have sufficient stock to meet current levels of demand with additional inbound stock.
- The following Type IIR masks are no longer suspended and are available to order:
- BWM85006 and BWM85050.
- A further Type IIR mask is now suspended and unavailable to order:
- BWM85095.
- The following Type IIR masks remain suspended and unavailable to order:
- BWM5071 and BWM85065.
- The following long cuff gloves have been removed from Demand Management:
- FTE85060, FTE85071, FTE85073 and FTE85074.
- The following long cuff gloves remain subject to Demand Management:
- FTE85068.
- All FFP3 masks have now been removed from Demand Management.
- The following Type IIR mask remains available whilst our current stocks last before being delisted:
- BWG85086.
- See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
- 21 Type IIR and FFP3 masks have been removed from Demand Management.
- Two FFP3 masks remain subject to Demand Management:
- BWG85081 and BWG85084.
- Long cuff gloves remain subject to Demand Management:
- FTE85060, FTE85068, FTE85071, FTE85073 and FTE85074.
- The following Type IIR masks are no longer suspended and are available to order:
- BWG85083, BWM85043 and BWM85049.
- The following Type IIR masks remain suspended and unavailable to order:
-
- BWM85050, BWM85065 and BWM85071.
- See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
- The following Type IIR masks are are now also suspended:
- eDirect codes – BWG85083, BWM85043, BWM85049, BWM85050 and BWM85065
- Stocked code – BWM85071.
- BWG85086 remains on Demand Management but is now available whilst our remaining stocks last.
- Our online catalogue is in the process of being updated to reflect the product listing.
- See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
- FFP3 mask (BWG85026) is in the process of being removed from demand management.
- eDirect code BWM85095 is no longer suspended.
- Type IIR masks, regional stocked code (customers of Alfreton, Rugby and Maidstone) BWM85006 is currently suspended. Please order the alternatives listed in the product matrix, which are national codes BWM85057 and BWM85003.
- Long cuff gloves (FTE85060, FTE85068, FTE85071, FTE85073 and FTE85074) have been placed on demand management.
- See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
- Type IIR and FFP3 face masks have been placed on demand management.
- If your preferred Type IIR mask is unavailable, please order a direct alternative.
- BWM85057 and BWM85003 are also nationally available Type IIR alternatives for consideration.
- If your preferred FFP3 masks is unavailable, alternative products are available but users of FFP3 masks are required to be FIT tested for using the specific make and model of respirator facemask. Guidance should be adhered to for use of alternative FFP3 masks.
- eDirect code BWM85095 is currently suspended with an expected resolution date of 1 March 2025. Please order the alternative listed in the product matrix, which is the stocked product BWM85057.
- See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
- Please note, some products are only visible to certain customers.
- The Voice of the Customer team will be hosting the next Medical and Surgical Consumables Customer Panel on Thursday 6 February, between 12pm-1pm, where a broad PPE overview will be provided and there will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions. If you would like to attend this, please contact us.
Voice of the Customer (VoC) Team
Download our publications ▼
-
2790 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Product Matrix 4 March 2025
An Excel file showing the product matrix with alternatives for ICN 2790.
-
2790 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Demand Capture Form
An Excel file showing the demand capture form for ICN 2790.