HEALTH chiefs in Oldham are optimistic they have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for professionals on the NHS frontline and in care homes to operate safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

The town hall's director of public health Katrina Stephens told a video media briefing how additional PPE stock had arrived at the weekend.

But she said the plan was for the new supply to be used as emergency back in case equipment procured via the national channels.

She said: "Although we took delivery of addtional stock over the weekend, what we've been trying to do is to create an emergency supply hub that we can use where there are parts of the system that appear to be running out or struggling with their own supplies."

She said all providers were being encouraged to follow "national routes" for getting supplies in the first instance so the new supply could be used as backup.

Ms Stephens continued: "We've got some equipment from Greater Manchester and we're going through our own procurement routes to buy additional stock.

"But we've also had some generous donations from businesses and colleges of things like goggles that would usually be used in science lessons. That central stock is in place."