- 5.29 million medical items now donated to Ukraine including
lifesaving medicines, wound packs, and intensive care equipment,
as UK leads humanitarian response
- Latest shipment left Birmingham on Thursday morning with
thousands of supplies, including ventilators following an urgent
request from Ukraine
- Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Foreign
Secretary affirm UK’s commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder
with Ukraine
More than five million items of medical supplies have now been
given to Ukraine by the UK to help the country cope with the
medical emergency caused by the Russian invasion, helping to save
tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives.
The 13th flight carrying items including ventilators
and other medical supplies following an urgent request from
Ukraine left Birmingham Airport this morning (Thursday
31st March) destined for Poland, from where the items
will be transported to sites across Ukraine.
The flights have left from Stansted, Birmingham and Heathrow
Airports and RAF Brize Norton over the last month, carrying items
including lifesaving medicines, intensive care equipment and
wound packs donated by NHS England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern
Ireland.
On Wednesday the 12th flight left from Heathrow
Airport carrying hundreds of thousands of items and medicines
critical for surgery and healthcare, including adrenaline,
tourniquets, and cannulas.
The UK government has been working closely with Ukrainian
officials to deliver targeted support to ensure medical items are
reaching the people who need them most, including Kyiv and Lyiv.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
“The appalling atrocities inflicted on the Ukrainians by Putin’s
evil attacks are causing untold misery to millions of people.
“The invasion has created a medical emergency and the UK has
acted swiftly to give our Ukrainian friends the medical support
they need which has helped save tens of thousands of lives.
“The UK will continue to stand with the remarkable people of
Ukraine in the face of Russia’s horrendous invasion.”
The 5 million milestone of medical items donated to Ukraine forms
part of the government’s wider humanitarian response to this
emergency.
Foreign Secretary, , said:
“The UK is continuing to play a leading role in the response to
Russia’s unprovoked attacks on the Ukrainian people, with UK aid
supplies flowing into Ukraine and its border regions.
“From medicines and equipment, to food, generators, blankets and
hygiene kits, we are working with the Government of Ukraine, our
trusted humanitarian partners and friends in the region to help
those most in need.”
Some of the significant items sent to the Ukraine so far include:
- Nearly 3,000 adult resuscitators
- Around 220,000 wound care packs
- Over 550,000 sterile needles
- Over 50,000 packs of bandages
- 1,600 pieces of equipment for ventilators
- Over 75,000 cannulas
- Around 380,000 packs of medicines – around 2.8million doses -
including antibiotics and painkillers
- 72,000 packs of gloves
- 28,000 FFP3 masks
On Tuesday, three trucks left for the region carrying wound care
packs, syringes and bandages. A further truck left on Wednesday
afternoon.
Medical aid donations have formed just part of the wider ongoing
support from the UK Government. Earlier this month 21 Ukrainian
children with cancer were flown to the UK, all of whom are
receiving lifesaving treatment from the NHS. The government also
announced that Ukrainians fleeing their home country will be
guaranteed free access to NHS healthcare, including hospital
services, GP and nurse consultations, urgent care centres and
injury units.
As of Tuesday 29th March, 22,100 visas have been
granted through the Ukraine Family Scheme and, for those with
valid Ukrainian passports, the government has removed the need to
attend an in-person appointment to conduct biometric checks
before travelling to the UK.
Since the Homes for Ukraine scheme launched on Monday
14th March more than 150,000 people have expressed
interest in being sponsors.
The government has provided £400 million in humanitarian and
economic aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries since the
Russian invasion started, along with defensive anti-tank and
anti-aircraft weaponry.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The 5 million figure is made up of each individual item and
individual dose of medicine
-
Ukraine Family Scheme:
application data 28 March 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Ukrainian children brought
to England for cancer treatment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
