NHS North Yorkshire CCG hails extraordinary community effort to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has hailed the “community heroes” who are coming together to help the local NHS and other care providers deal with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Across North Yorkshire, businesses, schools, colleges and universities, together with dozens of volunteers have been involved in the manufacture of thousands of clinical face shields for front-line health and care staff in GP surgeries, hospital wards and care homes.

The visors are worn over the top of face masks together with other pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and help protect nurses, doctors and carers from catching COVID-19 (coronavirus) from someone who is infected.

Elsewhere, a number of Facebook groups have sprung up, with hundreds of people making scrubs for healthcare workers and other items of PPE.

NHS North Yorkshire CCG Clinical Chair, Dr Charles Parker, said: “The way communities are pulling together to provide practical support for NHS and front-line health and care workers during this national crisis is extraordinary and humbling.

“On behalf of our GP practices in North Yorkshire I want to say an enormous thank you to each and every one of these community heroes who’s been involved in this effort to make PPE, or volunteer to help the NHS.”

The CCG’s Chief Nurse, Sue Peckitt, added: “Every day I’m seeing examples of people in North Yorkshire going to incredible lengths to support front-line health and care workers in so many different ways.

“The community spirit in the county we are lucky enough to call home is something to be treasured and I hope at some point in the future we will be able to formally recognise and celebrate all of the individuals and groups who are making such a massive contribution at this difficult time.”