MORE businesses from around the north have been urged to the ‘battle’ to produce protective equipment for the NHS and front-line workers.
The CBI in Northern Ireland will convene a business call at 11.30am on Wednesday in the hope of bringing more companies on board.
It comes as Belfast-based Operating Room Systems became the latest firm to turn its hand to the battle with coronavirus.
The medical equipment supplier has announced that it has secured an express delivery of essential respiratory equipment from Asia.
Although the company does not normally supply respiratory equipment, it stepped in after the Health Service’s procurement division, the Business Services Organisation, discovered an order placed with another supplier would take between 14 to 16 weeks to arrive due to high demand in other parts of the world.
Operating Room Systems was able to use a contact at Hong Kong-based Vincent Medical to purchase and secure fast delivery of 300 O2FLO high flow respiratory units, which are used for patients who are out of intensive care and don’t need a ventilator but still require oxygen to aid recovery.
The first 100 high flow oxygen units were delivered in just over two weeks and have been installed in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with the remaining 200 arriving this weekend.
Danske Bank approved an overdraft extension of £700,000 to enable the transaction to go ahead.
The CBI’s director in the north, Angela McGowan, has now put the call out for everyone from skilled engineering firms and suppliers to lawyers and logistics companies to support the effort.
“Protecting NHS and social care staff on the frontline is vitally important,” she said. “But it’s not just them, from people carrying out essential work in food manufacture or Post Offices and delivery drivers, key workers need protective gear and we are committed to helping to secure it for them.
“These people are the fifth emergency service in times like these.
“I believe that businesses and firms in region could play a key role and I’m calling on anyone who thinks they could play a part, even a small part, to sign up to the webinar and see if you can.”
The CBI director continued: “We are in a battle and many businesses who can are stepping up to the plate. We all can play our role and make a difference, and this is another way we can protect those who are going above and beyond in this crisis.”
Businesses can register for the business call via the CBI website.
