The Guardian reports that last Friday (17 April), the NHS paid a deposit to a Turkish company in an attempt to secure the delivery of 400,000 protective gowns; the first part of the delayed shipment that arrived from Istanbul last Wednesday is reported to contain only 32,000 gowns, which amounts to only a few hours supply.
Air freight specialists who have seen images of the shipment told the Guardian they estimated it was less than 10% of the kit sought.
The Turkish company is reported to have approached the NHS on Thursday 16th offering to supply 400,000 clinical gowns, and the order was placed within hours and an unspecified deposit paid the following day.
Full story in The Guardian, 23 April 2020