First Minister encourages Welsh businesses to join effort to make protective equipment for NHS staff

However, the leader of the Welsh Government said he understood worries about the availability of equipment.

It has led to a review being undertaken and new guidance issued across the UK which sets out where PPE should be used – a move which Mr Drakeford said was likely to increase the demand.

“I want to begin by expressing my real thanks to those many businesses and manufacturers in Wales, who have made us offers of help,” he said.

“With the production of PPE and other equipment, we’re responding as quickly as we can to the offers we already have and we need more.

“Today I’m calling on companies here in Wales to help our NHS to produce PPE products for the front line.

“Let’s restart the factory lines to help protect our frontline health and social care staff. There are already some great examples around Wales.

“The Royal Mint is making face visors which are being used in hospital and we have many other offers which we are urgently working through, but where there is more capacity to help were asking you to get in touch.”

Some concerns have been raised over the lack of PPE available for NHS staff in North Wales over the last week.

It has led to the father of a doctor at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor setting up a crowdfunding drive to make more available for her and her colleagues.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said there was “suitable and sufficient PPE” for its staff and said it had received a significant delivery to bolster stock for the foreseeable future.