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1. Main results

These statistics show the latest number of PPE items which have been issued to the health and social care system in Wales.

  • Since 9 March 2020, the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) has issued 440.4 million items of PPE to the health and social care sectors in Wales. Around 220 million of these were issued to the social care sector.
  • In the seven days to Sunday 8 November 2020 14.0 million items were issued.
  • The weekly number of PPE items issued has increased from March 2020 reaching a peak of 20.2 million in May 2020. Since then the number of items issued has fluctuated but remained around 13 to 14 million.
Table 1: Number of PPE items issued
Item Since 9 March 2020 In the seven days to 8 November 2020
Aprons 83,750,975 2,481,600
Body bags 8,636 84
Eye protector 1,615,355 920
Type I and Type II masks 952,400 16,950
Type IIR masks 109,951,204 3,433,045
FFP2 masks 114,510 440
FFP3 masks 2,070,696 14,130
Face visors 3,472,180 113,710
Fit test kits and spares 5,558 181
Gloves 229,957,440 7,626,100
Gloves cuff 1,175,600 9,200
Gowns (fluid-resistant) 1,431,090 54,036
Gowns (other) 435,300 17,046
Hand sanitiser 288,165 9,104
Hand wipes 5,173,350 207,400
Respirator filters 22,176 0
Respirator hoods 102 2
Total 440,424,737 13,983,948

Source: NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

The reporting of PPE items issued is based on individual units, except for:

  • gloves where a unit is reported based on the unit size of a pack
  • hand sanitiser where the unit is a bottle regardless of size

Please note: This data is subject to revisions and previous publications are not revised. The latest figures are the most up to date and cumulative figures will include any historical revisions.

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The weekly number of PPE items issued has increased from March 2020 reaching a peak of 20.2 million in May 2020. Since then the number of items issued has fluctuated but remained around 13 to 14 million.

Weekly Number of PPE items issued by date on StatsWales

2. Quality and methodology information

This data is management information provided to the Welsh Government by the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP). NWSSP procures and distributes PPE for the health and social care sectors in Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government.  We are publishing this to provide a weekly summary of PPE items issued while it remains relevant to the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This data has not undergone the same level of quality assurance as official statistics and the data may be subject to future revisions.

Data includes stock issued from NWSSP only and does not include any stock procured directly by the NHS or local authorities. The data will include PPE procured directly by NWSSP as well as PPE distributed to NWSSP by the UK Government. It reflects a snapshot at a point in time of a dynamic position.

This release reports on PPE items issued since 9 March 2020 as this represents the point at which the current reporting arrangements were established.

Data included in this release is correct at 8pm on 8 November 2020.

National Statistics status

These statistics are not National Statistics. However, as far as has been practicable, they have been collected and validated in accordance with the pillars and principles within the Code of Practice for Statistics. We continue to develop the data collection and quality assurance process to improve the data.

These statistics have been produced quickly in response to developing world events.

Well-being of Future Generations Act

The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven wellbeing goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators ('national indicators') that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the wellbeing goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before the National Assembly. The 46 national indicators were laid in March 2016.

Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the well-being goals and associated technical information is available in the Well-being of Wales report.

Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The statistics included in this release could also provide supporting narrative to the national indicators and be used by public services boards in relation to their local wellbeing assessments and local wellbeing plans.

Next update

This is currently a weekly statistical release. It will be published at 09:30am every Thursday. We will review the frequency in line with changing user need.

The next release will be on Thursday 19 November 2020.

We want your feedback

We welcome any feedback on any aspect of these statistics which can be provided by email to kas.covid19@gov.wales.

3. Contact details

Statistician: Abi Woodham
Telephone: 0300 025 1053
Email: kas.covid19@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099

SFR 200/2020