How the industry can donate PPE to the NHS during coronavirus
As we’re all aware, the NHS is desperately short of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers. Here’s how aesthetic clinics, individual practitioners and suppliers can help.
Although NHS strategic incident director Professor Keith Willett has written to health bosses to explain that additional PPE is being distributed, with 2.6 million face masks and 10,000 hand sanitisers sent to NHS Trusts last Thursday (2 April), the risk of shortage is especially important given the virus’s expected upcoming peak.
Professional Beauty Group is urging the beauty, aesthetics, hair and spa communities to come together to help. Many clinic owners, salon owners and suppliers are already donating spare PPE to the NHS to help protect the lives of those who are working and being treated there, and you can too.
Below, we’ve compiled a guide on how exactly your business can help the NHS through this challenging time:
What PPE does the NHS need?
- Fluid-repellent surgical masks
- Disposable gloves
- Alcohol hand rub and sanitisers
- Protective eye wear
- Long-sleeved plastic aprons
- Plastic shoe covers
- Disposable hygienic bags and boxes.
How can I donate PEE equipment to the NHS?
Depending on where you’re based, there are lots of ways you can safely drop off equipment to benefit the NHS.
Nationally
No matter where your business is based in the UK, you are advised to donate PPE to your local NHS Trust. You can arrange a drop by contacting the emergency planning officer at your local NHS Trust, details of which can be found on NHS Trust websites.
Here are just a few local examples:
Cambridgeshire
The University of Cambridge is helping the fight against coronavirus in a number of ways, including coordinating donations of PPE for frontline health staff.
If you’re based in the Cambridge area and have PPE to donate, visit the website and fill out the form.
Manchester
Following a call-out for help from Wendy Nissen, a 44-year-old nurse at Royal Salford Hospital, salons, clinics and suppliers are being encouraged to drop off spare, unopened boxes of PPE at local NHS hospital main entrances and receptions in the Manchester area.
“In just a few hours of sharing the message on Facebook, I have had more than 200 shares and people contacting me to say they have delivered PPE to their local hospitals,” she told Manchester Evening News.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said last week that there were still “major concerns” over a shortage PPE in the region.
Oldham council is still appealing for more donations in the area. Anyone able to help should email strategic.sourcing@oldham.gov.uk
Scarborough
Saint Catherine’s hospice in Scarborough needs donations of PPE for frontline staff. Patients are still being cared for both at the hospice and at home by staff, and while the hospice is receiving PPE from the NHS and other donations, it is still having to buy some. Anyone who can help should email general@saintcatherines.org.uk
RCS issues statement for surgeons
Professor Michael Griffin OBE, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, issued a statement on the importance of PEE for surgeons. He said: “While we welcome and support this long awaited new guidance from Public Health England, we are continuing to hear from our membership that supply of PPE is irregular, and where it has been delivered, crucial parts of PPE items are still missing. The guidance is in line now with that of WHO, and addresses the concerns we raised, but it must be backed up by supply and distribution of this crucial equipment to the front line.
“Surgeons are at a high-risk of being exposed to covid-19 through performing operations which cause aerosol emissions, because even if a patient is asymptomatic, there is no guarantee they are not carrying the virus. Appropriate PPE is therefore absolutely essential, to avoid infecting those in theatre and in the procedure rooms.
“While non-essential operations have been postponed for now, there is still be a requirement for surgeons to perform emergency and urgent surgery, so it is vital we do not find ourselves in the position where there is the prospect of onward transmission to surgeon or staff in theatres, which could ultimately result in the loss of crucial members of staff.”
Find out how some aesthetic brands are helping amid covid-19.
