Burnley doctors appeal for vital protective equipment

Local GPs Dr Yasara Naheed and Dr James Fleming say staff working at surgeries and care homes across Burnley borough need essential equipment such as masks, gowns and gloves – and she is hoping that local businesses, schools and colleges may be able to help.

“We have staff at doctors’ surgeries who are dealing with patients coming in with potential COVID-19 symptoms,” said Dr Naheed, who is based at Thursby Road surgery.“The NHS is getting personal protective equipment out to health staff and we’ve had an initial delivery.

"We’ve been promised more but we’re not sure when that will arrive and we are looking at ways of filling that gap.“There are also staff looking after Covid-19 patients who have been discharged from hospital but need further care who need this kind of equipment.

“There may be companies in our borough, or even schools and colleges and other organisations, that have the sort of equipment we need and that could let us have it.

“It’s the sort of stuff that companies who have staff that are involved in spraying or painting surfaces or who work in any kind of hazardous working conditions would use.

“It would make such a massive difference to our NHS staff who are having to cope in such difficult circumstances and it would be yet another example of people coming together to get us all through this crisis."

The main pieces of equipment needed are:

• Water resistant face masks (to FFP2 or FFP3 standard)

• Gowns (or boilersuits)

• Disposable gloves

• Disposable aprons

• Face visors/goggles

• Hand sanitisers/refills

• Hand wash

Any business or organisation that feels it could help is asked to send details on what kind of equipment and the quantities it can provide via email to [email protected]