£15m PPE order placed with Limavady company

by Q Radio News

A PPE order, valued at £15m, has been placed with a Limavady company by the Department of Health.

The IIR face masks will be provided by Paragon Health.

Paragon is the first of a number of firms across Northern Ireland to have successfully completed a series of rigorous technical and suitability assessments to allow them to provide vital PPE for the health and social care sector.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “As we all prepare for a critical phase in the battle against Covid-19 all parts of society have a part to play.  Local industry has had the ingenuity, creativity and foresight to be part of the campaign in the fight against Covid-19 and I am delighted to make this announcement today.

"In addition, a number of other local firms are nearing completion of the assessment process and if successful they too will begin production of the Type IIR masks in coming weeks.  These orders are in excess of £49 million over 12 months."

Martin Tierney from Paragon Health paid tribute to the healthcare workers using these medical masks. 

“We appreciate the tremendous effort and compassion that healthcare workers put into caring for patients every day. We’re proud to help protect them and to provide local employment at the same time.”

Mr Tierney also highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses and the impact this has had on their staff numbers.

“Each new staff member we bring on is paying a mortgage, raising a family and spending money in our local shops. Local people, here in Northern Ireland, have the ability to make high quality goods and to serve our own needs.

“We’ve designed and created world-class production processes to compete with any country on the manufacture of PPE. Our exports show that we can provide high quality goods, add local jobs and support research and development in a high-tech industry.”

Robin Swann said other companies are nearing the end of an assessment process with PPE orders over £49m over the course of the next year.