Campaign donates PPE to Grantham Hospital key workers
A nationwide campaign joined by Grantham helpers has donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to key workers at Grantham Hospital, with more donations expected.
PPE4NHS aims to collect and donate PPE to key workers and has donated 450 items of PPE to Grantham Hospital.
A further 675 items, such as face visors, masks and gloves, are reportedly on their way, 300 of which were donated by Dexter Blackstock, a former professional footballer who played as a striker, most notably for Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest.
The managing director of Nottinghamshire firm Lindhurst, Martin Rigley, launched the PPE4NHS campaign. The nationwide drive has now surpassed 50,000 items of PPE donated.
Grantham woman Sue Harris, sales development executive for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, is leading the initiative with Martin. She said: “The aim is that people from the Grantham area dig deep to help.
“If any company in Grantham would like to move into making PPE, if they have 3D printing or would like to donate a 3D printer, contact me on sue.harris@iom3.org”
Ian Marsh, a manager at Grantham firm Red Rhino, based on the Alma Park Industrial Estate, has provided a warehouse for storage and distribution of PPE, much of which has been donated by firms across the country.
Donations of any protective equipment from the Grantham area will be used in Grantham.
Grantham Hospital campaigner Melissa Darcey has been assisting Sue with getting PPE straight to key workers in Grantham Hospital and nearby care homes.
Melissa has also raised over £2,300 to purchase and supply frontline staff PPE. So far, 648 masks have been purchased by Melissa.
She has also sourced a supplier of gowns which both Grantham and Boston Hospitals are "desperate for". Each gown will cost around £6.90 and are fully certified. Melissa is appealing for any donations in order to purchase a decent amount of the gowns for key workers.
She said: “We need to protect our frontline NHS staff and carers so the monies raised from this fund-raiser will be used to purchase and supply our frontline staff with some extra care and protection.
“I have sourced face shields for Newton House Care Home, the St Barnabas Hospice on Barrowby Gate and local nurses and community carers – they are all so grateful for your help and support, so thank you.
“We must all stick together in order to protect each other.
“This is an ongoing appeal. Please support and share, save our frontline staff and save lives.”
To donate PPE or register an interest in helping, email PPE4NHS@hotmail.com or to donate to Melissa’s appeal, visit tinyurl.com/melissadarceyappeal.
