Croydon Council is thanking businesses across the borough that have come forward to help boost its supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the wake of the national shortage.
The protective equipment is helping keep the staff delivering vital front line services, such as health and social care workers, safe.
More than 40 businesses and schools from across Croydon have donated thousands of items ranging from gloves to goggles, masks to hand sanitisers to help combat the spread of Covid-19.
West One Dental Supplies in Sydenham Road, central Croydon, and Natureza Dental Practice in Portland Road, South Norwood, are among the businesses that helped. Both companies generously donated items including gloves and water resistant face masks.
Zankruti Patel, dentist-owner at Natureza Dental Practice, said: “I saw the appeal on the council website. It was overwhelming to try and choose where I should send the PPE so I went to the council. I knew I wanted to support something in my local community and knew the council would be able to get the supplies to someone local.”
Other significant contributions saw Rowland Brothers on Whitehorse Road, Selhurst, provide 750 protective goggles and Ethical Stationery on Spout Hill, Addington provide 1,000 bottles of hand wash; while schools across Croydon have kindly donated protective goggles from their science labs.
The council’s procurement team have purchased 100,000 aprons and continue to follow up all offers of PPE to ensure frontline care providers are supplied with this vital equipment.
“Following the national shortage of PPE we have had a very good response to our appeals for more equipment and I’m enormously grateful to everyone who has come forward to offer help. We currently have a good supply of PPE available for staff that need it, but given the national shortage we are continuing to ask any businesses who may be able to help to get in touch.
“We are doing everything we can to support frontline staff both at the council and at care providers across the borough who may be struggling to secure their own supplies during this difficult time.”
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council
Any businesses able to donate or sell PPE to the council, including water resistant face masks, disposable plastic or latex gloves, plastic aprons, eye protection, overshoes and sanitising gel should email their supply details including quantity, location including postcode and a contact telephone number to PPErequests@croydon.gov.uk
