John Lewis is reopening its textiles factory 'Herbert Parkinson' in Lancashire, to make protective gowns for the NHS. Partners who usually sew bespoke blinds, curtains and pillows and duvets will this week begin making around 8,000 washable, clinical gowns for the Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust. The retailer is also donating over 20,000 metres of cotton fabric from its haberdashery departments and distribution centres to "For the Love of Scrubs" and 'Scrubs Glorious Scrubs', groups who now have thousands of members who are making scrubs for the NHS. The donated fabric is expected to make around 6,000 scrubs.

John Lewis has already created a wellbeing area for staff at NHS Nightingale London and Manchester. Now the retailer will begin donating 250 electrical products such as coffee machines, kettles and toasters to the staff rooms and wellbeing areas at 25 acute London hospitals, and the Nightingale Hospitals in Harrogate.

press release: John Lewis is making gowns for the NHS

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