Thousands of items of essential personal safety kit have been delivered to Portsmouth, ready to be dispatched to frontline staff across the city.
The delivery - which includes disposable aprons, gloves and face masks - will be sent on immediately to those providing essential services to some of the city's most vulnerable residents, including those in council-run and privately owned residential care and nursing homes, and those providing personal care in people's homes.
As well as generous donations from local businesses - including Hover Travel, Pall Europe, University of Portsmouth and L3 Harris - the delivery includes items from a stock managed by the Local Resilience Forum, the group of public sector organisations that is working together to coordinate activity in response to the outbreak of coronavirus.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care for Portsmouth City Council said: "We welcome this delivery of vital personal protective equipment, which we've been waiting to receive for some time. The wellbeing of vulnerable people and our vital frontline staff is of paramount importance to us - and this delivery means we can continue to delivery essential services safely.
"I'd also like to thank local businesses that have stepped up and donated materials, as well as the council staff and Hampshire Search and Rescue who are working tirelessly to get this stock where it's needed most. The operation is a real testament to the strong community spirit we have here in Portsmouth."
This delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be distributed to locations across the city to ensure that those services that are delivering business critical support receive the equipment they need to operate safely. There is enough equipment to be distributed to those that need it.
Several Portsmouth businesses are currently looking into producing face guards and developing alternatives to hand sanitiser. More details to follow once approved.
For local information about coronavirus, and any impact it’s having on services, visit www.portsmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus
For more information about coronavirus and what to do if you think you have symptoms visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
If you can help provide PPE to protect the key workers who are delivering services on a daily basis please email COVIDdonations@hantsfire.gov.uk
