NSS gets £37m Covid boost from European Regional Development Fund
The funding boost for NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) helped secure tens of millions of items of PPE in the face of continued high global demand.
Published on 11 November 2021
Scotland’s pandemic response has been awarded more than £37million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The funding boost for NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) helped secure tens of millions of items of PPE in the face of continued high global demand.
Millions of PPE items were purchased with the generous award. Those vital supplies were used to protect NHS colleagues as they treated patients and saved lives in communities across the country.
The Scottish Government, which is the Managing Authority of the ERDF programme, approved the award at the end of May 2021 in recognition of the exceptional circumstances during a global pandemic.
Gordon Beattie, Director of National Procurement at NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), said: “We are delighted to have received this funding award from the European Regional Development Fund.
“Our National Procurement teams have ensured this money has been spent wisely, achieving maximum value for our NHS and maximum benefit for our health and care colleagues.
“We will continue to work closely with Scottish Government and with all relevant partners to support Scotland’s NHS and our social care colleagues.”
Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work Richard Lochhead MSP said:
“In normal times the ERDF programme would support projects that promote smart and sustainable growth, so our decision to award more than £37 million to help purchase PPE for NHS workers is unique.
“It reveals how the pandemic has changed what we think of as normal – and that the Scottish Government is prepared to adapt its approach to help Scotland’s economic and social recovery. Thanks to this ERDF award, tens of millions of items of PPE were procured to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19.
“Though we are approaching the end of the programming period of European Structural Funds, they remain as important as ever. Hundreds of projects up and down the country that support services, businesses and vulnerable people depend on European funding.
“We will continue to maximise remaining funding to help Scotland recover from the pandemic and build a fairer future for all.”
About the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme
The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit our webpages or follow @scotgovESIF.
This award was made as a result of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) measures, introduced by the European Commission in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.