10m masks stuck at Prestwick Airport in label error

A consignment of vital medical equipment shipped from China could remain at Prestwick Airport for up to a week as officials try to resolve a labelling issue, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has confirmed.

A charter flight carrying personal protective equipment (PPE) and NHS supplies arrives at Prestwick Airport from China (Picture: Scottish Government)

The Scottish Sun originally reported that the shipment of 10 million fluid-resistant masks – 1 million of which are destined for the NHS in Wales – as well as 100,000 coronavirus testing kits was due to be collected and distributed on Friday, but has been held up because labels were placed inside the roughly 200,000 boxes, rather than 
outside.

The Scottish Government said the shipment had arrived three weeks before it was needed on the front line.

“The fact that shipment didn’t have a label on the boxes, but had a note inside the boxes, may not be sufficient to clear them out of the airport and get them to where we need them to be,” Ms Freemand said.

“But we took the view that it was better to have that aircraft with that important cargo sitting on a runway in an airport in Scotland than sitting on the runway in China.”