Urgent Call for Help with Personal Protective Equipment for Frontline workers

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has launched an urgent call for donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline key workers supporting the region’s most vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis.

Dedicated Local Authority, Fire, Police, Transport and other providers of essential front-line services are continuing to provide care and support services for the most vulnerable people in the region every day.

But the equipment they need to protect both themselves and the people they support is running lower with each day and organisations are currently struggling to obtain essentials like masks, disposable gloves and aprons as quickly as needed, due to the huge surge in demand. Even as supplies are set to arrive from central government, there is concern that demand is such that these central supplies may not keep up with demand in the coming weeks.

Without this essential kit, providers and their staff will be unable to safely deliver a service, putting both staff and vulnerable people at risk of further transmission of the virus.

10,000 businesses and community organisations are therefore being asked if they can help supply this vital equipment immediately, via a letter sent today from Growth Platform.

The equipment needed is:

• Hand sanitiser (at least 70 per cent alcohol based)
• Disposable gloves
• Disposable aprons
• Protective face masks
• Protective eye goggles
• Protective gowns
• Clinical waste bags

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 as demand continues to out-strip supply.

“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.

“I applaud colleagues from across the city region who have been working tirelessly over recent days to secure these vital supplies and I know they, and frontline workers, will be incredibly grateful to any business or community organisation that can offer their help.”

The call was issued by Growth Platform, the Liverpool City Region’s growth company, that works with thousands of businesses across the City Region.

Mark Basnett, Managing Director of Growth Platform said:

“We have today written to 10,000 businesses across the city region asking for their urgent assistance in sharing whatever supplies of PPE they can.

“We know that many of our businesses are doing everything they can to help, while they are themselves experiencing unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus crisis.

“The hope is that those that can will be able to help with PPE supplies to support frontline workers at this time.”

It is hoped that organisations who may be able to assist could include, but not be limited to, PPE or other manufacturers, dentists, vets, hazardous industries (e.g. asbestos removal), health and beauty.

Equipment could be provided either as donation or on a commercial basis. All products must not have reached their end of use date and payment can be arranged for any suitable products put forward.

This call is being made on behalf of Local Authorities, the Fire and Police Services, Public Transport by the Merseyside Resilience Forum, which is the formal body coordinating Merseyside’s multi-agency response to the Coronavirus crisis.

Offers of help are being coordinated via the Growth Platform.

If you can help, please urgently contact:

https://growthplatform.org/ppe-suppliers/