Care provider gives much needed PPE to air ambulance and Hove care home

Small Opportunities is a care provider for young adults with learning disabilities, it has given 20 moisture repellent repellent coveralls to Air Ambulance Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) and a few coveralls and a box of protective gloves to Oaklands Nursing Home in Hove.

Dafydd Williams, director of Small Opportunities, said: “The PPE shortage is seriously affecting healthcare providers – preventing them from being able to work at this really crucial time and even putting their lives in danger.

"As a care provider ourselves, Small Opportunities has a small stock of reserve PPE and, whilst we are doing all we can to protect our employees, we felt we could spare some equipment and give it to frontline care providers who are facing an unprecedented challenge at the current time.

“Care organisations and healthcare providers who currently don’t have COVID-19 cases need to work together now and share resources where we can. With a stronger community-focused approach, we can get the limited PPE that’s currently available, to the organisations with an immediate need.

“We are therefore delighted to have been able to support our local Air Ambulance and a local care home. Both organisations were very grateful to receive our protective clothing donations and both continue to provide an outstanding service in challenging times.”

David Welch, Chief Executive of KSS said: “The donation of PPE from Small Opportunities makes a huge difference to our ability to operate in today’s challenging environment. We are extremely thankful to Dafydd and his team for their generosity and selflessness. I hope that more organisations – including dentists, construction firms, decorators and metal workers - follow suit and donate any surplus equipment they currently have. Donations like this help to save lives.”

KSS would very much welcome any donations of disposable face masks that meet FFP3 standards, ideally fluid repellent, ‘Tyvek’ moisture repellent coveralls (or equivalent), single use or reusable face shields and 3M Versaflo respirator devices and accessories.

If you have suitable equipment to donate, please email [email protected]For further information about Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex: www.aaks.org.uk

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.