B&Q owner Kingfisher is set to divert all of its remaining stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline healthcare workers across Europe.
The home & DIY retail group, which operates store across territories including the UK, France and Poland, will donate five trucks of protective eyewear and masks worth over £200,000 to the NHS emergency hub in the Midlands today.
The retail group has also ordered a further 3 million facemasks from suppliers in China and Israel that will be available toward the end of the month, either for donation to health authorities in the UK, France, Poland and Romania, or to equip store and distribution centre staff.
To date, Kingfisher has donated a range of products across the territories it operates in, including £300,000 worth of PPE to NHS staff and 2.5 million products including gloves, masks, visors and protective suits to hospitals in Paris.
The retailer said: “There is a global peak in demand, but by ringfencing stock and using our international supply chain, we can help bring essential PPE to where healthcare needs are greatest in our markets.”
Kate Anderson, director of corporate affairs at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, which recently received a donation of masks and goggles, said: “Our staff are delighted to receive the masks and goggles, which will really help to ensure they’re well protected in the coming days and weeks.”
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