NPHET's Medicines and Medical Devices Criticality Assessment Group have just published agendas/minutes (March to May) https://twitter.com/IrelandTicker/status/1278365379442679808

this NPHET committee is important as it has responsibility for PPE (and other critical Covid19 supplies)

they meet twice a week, and it's the first time they have published anything at all

correction: only the minutes have been published. no meeting agendas published yet

first mention of the Master List. that’s more detailed than the Risk Register (already FOI’ed). neither are currently in public domain

“HSE’s procedures for distributing supplies of devices and PPE are continuing to be refined, to ensure demands are met in the event of a significant surge in case. Policy of what groups to receive PPE is not within the remit of the group”

the above is important as there was an extended period when hospitals received PPE, but nursing homes and other residential settings didn’t. but this Committee clearly state they didn’t make that decision

suggests demand side model was outside this Committee’s remit:

“Group’s work is partially dependent on modelling of projected demand which will be shared with the Group insofar as possible”

Next minutes seem to contradict this, that this Committee does hold responsibility or have capacity to model demand ? There is huge level of secrecy around PPE demand model, and it’s unclear why

slightly misleading. there was substantial existing disposable mask making capability in Ireland in March, it was just it was contracted to other countries

in early April, HSE was working with EI on domestic mask production... which is weird as that’s very much the time domestic PPE manufacturers were being ghosted by the HSE

the dates in minutes on PPE worth some scrutiny ( @MervColton @neilosands @Heroes_Aid )

Mid April. Ireland self sufficient for respirator masks ...FFP2s.

That’s so strange. To my knowledge there is currently no respirator mask production in Ireland. But according to minutes we had a 5k/day surplus from an unknown manufacturer. This is minuted, so must be true?

It also states “facilitating potential
import of machinery to produce FFP2 masks” whereas my understanding is that HSE refused to sign off on Aerlingus airbridge for importation of two mask making machines from China (will check exact dates, but was around mid April)

end of April, confirms domestic FFP2 production. must be same firm that was producing 5k more than we needed... so question has to be asked why @BravoCharlieTa1 simply didn’t collect from this manufacturer and deliver to hospitals/nursing homes with no masks

end of April. four new surgical mask manufacturers coming onstream? does anyone know the Irish companies involved? (also interesting that there were two domestic fibre producers. aware of two suppliers for gowns material, but not mask material)

the @TheNotoriousMMA donation gets a mention