A BRADFORD NHS Trust has had an "overwhelming response" from local companies and individuals volunteering to make hospital scrubs by the end of the week.

The Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) issued an urgent appeal yesterday for Bradford firms to step forward and help produce the special clothing.

Demand for scrubs at the BTHFT has spiked amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Scrubs are usually worn by just clinical staff in ICU and theatres, but additional staff are now needing them because of the requirement to wear extensive Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in some clinical areas.

The Trust was in desperate need of between 140 and 200 sets by the end of the week.

Chris Davies, head of facilities at BTHFT, has now revealed that he received up to around 30 emails in response to the appeal, which was also shared by the T&A.

Mr Davies said: “As a Trust, we would like to thank everyone who has volunteered their services as a result of our urgent appeal for scrubs.

“We had an overwhelming response, which goes to show the incredible support our NHS has here in the city.

“In these unprecedented times, Bradford really stepped up when needed.

“Thanks also to Narang Textiles, for providing the fabric to make the scrubs.”

The team is still working through the responses and selected firms will be sent a pattern and the donated material once that process is completed.

The donated fabric has been thoroughly tested using the Trust’s thermal disinfectant process and detailed instructions will be provided to the company/companies chosen, to ensure the scrubs are made to the highest standard.

Scrubs offer more comfort than PPE, which can be quite heavy and uncomfortable.

The Trust's linen and laundry supplier usually provides ample scrubs for staff.

But, there have been short-term issues with the supply chain due to rapid rises in demand from Trusts across the country, amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Trust’s own seamstresses are currently working hard to produce new scrubs, but the unprecedented rise in demand has meant additional help was needed.

Mr Davies explained that he hoped this would be a one-off appeal, as the Trust's linen and laundry supplier had now secured a much-needed injection of stock into the system.