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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ffion Lewis

NHS care to be hit by HGV driver shortages warns Welsh medical supplies firm

A medical supply company has warned a shortage of lorry drivers could have a knock on effect on NHS care.

Direct Healthcare Group, also known as DHG, who supply the NHS with hospital beds said it was struggling to make deliveries because of the shortage.

The Caerphilly based firm is one of the UK's largest manufacturers of specialist medical devices, supplying thousands of hospital beds, specialist mattresses and chairs each year to hospitals and care homes.

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The company's chief executive said it would have to prioritise deliveries and the NHS might have to make difficult patient choices because there were not enough drivers.

The Welsh Government said it was "monitoring UK-wide HGV driver shortages".

Chief executive Graham Ewart said a combination of HGV driver shortages and an expected increase in demand could lead to parts of the NHS not getting the supplies they needed over coming months.

Mr Ewart said a "perfect storm" had been caused by the combination of Covid and Brexit, which had led to significant problems in moving goods around.

"What we've seen post-Covid pandemic is a strain on our supply chain and a lack of ability to source raw materials and containers across the globe," he told the BBC.

"This has now been compounded with Brexit and a UK logistical challenge around getting HGV drivers to both deliver and also collect goods."

He said he had had to stockpile raw materials and had started using smaller vans to deliver some products, rather than lorries that need a driver with an HGV licence.

The NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership is responsible for the procurement of healthcare products for the NHS in Wales.

But Mr Ewart said there needed to be closer working between companies such as his and NHS procurement teams, to ensure the correct products reach the areas of greatest need.

He also said he wanted more action taken to increase the number of drivers available.

The Welsh Government said it was "monitoring" the UK-wide HGV driver shortages and their impact on "critical supply chains in Wales".

A spokesman said: “We are monitoring UK-wide HGV driver shortages and their impact on critical supply chains in Wales. We continue to press the UK Government to take action to address the causes of these issues.”

A UK Government spokeswoman said: "We recognise business is facing a range of challenges and we are taking steps to support them, including streamlining the process for new HGV drivers and increasing the number of driving tests. Progress has already being made in testing and hiring, with improving pay, working conditions and diversity.

"We are closely monitoring labour supply and working with sector leaders to understand how we can best ease particular pinch points. Through our Plan for Jobs we’re helping people across the country retrain, build new skills and get back into work.”

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