This item appeared on the ScotRail website on 27 April 2020

NHS staff in the Highlands will receive a vital donation of sanitary clothing, thanks to a volunteer group and the help of ScotRail.

The train operator transported 30 bales of fabric which will be made into hospital scrubs for NHS staff in Inverness, Caithness, and Elgin by volunteer group, NHS Scotland for the Love of Scrubs.

The material was loaded on to an off-peak service from Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness on Friday, 24 April.

NHS Scotland for the Love of Scrubs has more than 300 volunteer machinists across the country who have been making NHS approved standard scrubs and donating them to hospitals in need.

The charitable organisation was created by Mirka and Maja Jankowska of Mirka Bridal Couture, Holly Baxter-Weir of Fabric Bazaar, and Clare Boyle after discovering on social media that there was a shortage of scrubs in the NHS.

More than £41,000 has been raised in public donations to buy fabric and sewing materials for the volunteers, with more than 1,000 sets of scrubs made and delivered to hospitals so far, ensuring social distancing is maintained.

David Simpson, ScotRail Operations Director, said:

"I'm delighted that ScotRail has been able to support NHS Scotland for the Love of Scrubs - it's a truly wonderful cause.

"By transporting the scrubs on ScotRail services free of charge, we hope that it will save on transport costs and allow the volunteers to spend more money on materials to make more of this vital equipment."

Holly Baxter-Weir, Organiser at NHS Scotland for the Love of Scrubs, said:

"We're really thankful for ScotRail's help in distributing this fabric, as well as other supplies we need to allow us to continue to support the NHS.

"This delivery has saved us enough money in courier fees to make another 43 sets of scrubs, which is really just incredible. It makes such a difference and allows our fund to stretch further."