You and Yours

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Consumer

BBC Radio 4 FM

You and Yours: UK-made PPE; Unpaid Carers; Lockdown Food Waste

08/06/2020

UK-made PPE; Unpaid Carers; Lockdown Food Waste

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, UK-made PPE; Unpaid Carers; Lockdown Food Waste

The UK clothes manufacturers taking on new contracts to make PPE at scale for the NHS.

The millions of new unpaid carers who've been looking after relatives or friends since the Coronavirus outbreak started.

The need for a steady supply of personal protective equipment for the NHS has been one of the stories of the Coronavirus outbreak.   The UK is heavily reliant on PPE supplies coming in from abroad and now has more than 100 new global suppliers.  But it's also turned to UK manufacturers who've signed deals to make over two billion face masks, visors, gowns and aprons.  We'll visit Private White VC in Manchester which has signed a deal to make gowns, and speak to Patrick Grant, the award winning fashion designer about what this may mean for the industry moving forward.

New research suggests an extra 4.5 million people have begun caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends since the start of the lockdown.  Carers UK used a YouGov survey of more than four thousand people which they say suggests the total number of unpaid carers is now more than 13 million people.  There's been a rise in younger people taking on responsibilities and those who're in paid work.  We'll hear from 24 year old Bethan, who's caring for her grandparents and speak to Carers UK plus get a response from the government.

And the recycling charity WRAP says that during lockdown we've been wasting less food.  Out of 4000 people surveyed, nearly a third said they were freezing food more, and saving leftovers for other meals. People also reported doing more batch cooking, writing shopping lists and checking cupboards and the fridge before going to the shops.   We'll speak to some shoppers and the chef Rukmini Iyer, the author of 'The Roasting Tin' series of cook books. 

Presenter: Winifred Robinson
Producer: Jess Quayle

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

You and Yours

UK-made PPE; Unpaid Carers; Lockdown Food Waste

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4