Urgent request for PPE for Sefton’s frontline workers: COVID-19

An urgent call has gone out for donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline key workers supporting the region’s most vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis.

Dedicated workers in Sefton are providing vital support to ensure people can continue to live independently in their homes or are providing more specialist care in care homes.

The equipment they need to protect not just themselves but the people they care for is running lower with each day and the health and social care sector in the borough is struggling to get essentials like masks, disposable gloves and aprons as quickly as it is needed due to the huge surge in demand.

This has led to the call for help from businesses and community groups to help.

Supporting the call, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“Our key workers in local authorities, the fire and police services and public transport are on the frontline in tackling coronavirus, often supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“We have a responsibility to protect these staff, and the vulnerable people they support, with the right PPE, but this is now in dangerously short supply across the region.

“That is why we are taking this unprecedented step to ask businesses and community organisations if they can help with any supplies of PPE – either by donating any supplies they can spare or on a commercial basis.”

Businesses who may be able help include:

· Dentists

· Vets

· Hazardous industries (e.g. asbestos removal)

· Health and beauty

Examples of the most in-demand products include:

· Hand sanitiser (at least 70 per cent alcohol based)

· Disposable gloves (vinyl – powder free)

· Disposable aprons

· Protective face masks (IIR, FFP2 or FFP3)

· Protective eye goggles/glasses and over spectacle glasses

All products must not have reached their end of use date and payment can be arranged, where necessary, for any suitable products put forward. Sefton Council will arrange for collection of any equipment.

Attached is a spreadsheet with details of products required. If you are able to provide any of the products required, in however small a quantity, please complete the details and return the spreadsheet by email to sarah.townley@sefton.gov.uk or eleanor.Moulton@sefton.gov.uk

PPE required products spreadsheet