Representatives from across the healthcare service have appealed for donations of Personal Protective Equipment to protect healthcare workers against the Coronavirus while caring for sick patients.
With reductions in staff on most sites and only essential maintenance allowed during the period of heightened restrictions, an amount of PPE will be sat unused at golf clubs around the country and at this time we believe it is right and appropriate that this equipment be donated to aid the fight against COVID-19.
Equipment requested by the NHS includes face masks, visors, surgical gowns and gloves.
Among the items being sought are:
- Face masks FFP1 or FFP3 rated (the rating is marked on each mask)
- Nitrile gloves
- Visors or goggles
- Disposable aprons or overalls.
Golf clubs can interact with the scheme on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn via #PPE4NHS
Contact your local NHS Trust for more information about how you can donate PPE. Alternatively, you can register to donate items here: https://www.donateyourppe.uk
Some golf clubs have already begun donating items to their local healthcare providers:
Why are these items essential to help fight COVID-19?
Disposable aprons or overalls
Disposable plastic aprons must be worn to protect staff uniform or clothes from becoming contaminated either when they are directly caring for patients or when they are decontaminating an area.
Aprons must be changed between patients and immediately after the completion of any task.
Disposable gloves
Disposable gloves must be worn when healthcare workers are in direct contact with patients and when exposure to bodily fluids of any kind is likely. This also includes during the decontamination of equipment and areas.
Gloves must be changed immediately after each patient contact or the completion of a task.
Eye protection or face visors
Eye and face protection needs to be worn where there is a risk of contamination to the eyes - water droplets in the air can easily fall onto exposed areas of skin if protection isn't worn. Disposable, single use eye/face protection is recommended.
Eye protection can include: surgical mask with integrated visor; full face shield/visor; polycarbonate safety spectacles or equivalent.
