Callout to West Sussex businesses for PPE

West Sussex businesses are being asked if they can supply or donate any personal protective equipment (PPE) to help protect frontline workers who are delivering essential services to residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, Amanda Jupp, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all those businesses who have already come forward to donate or supply PPE for frontline staff in West Sussex during the COVID-19 crisis.

“As businesses will be aware, there is nationally an acute shortage of PPE across all services that support the public. Our council is urgently looking to increase its supplies of PPE for frontline staff which includes social workers, care home workers, community hub delivery drivers and Fire and Rescue Service workers.

“Whilst we are receiving PPE supplies, the current situation means we need to continually increase supplies coming in – obviously there is great demand across the county for equipment, with the NHS understandably being prioritised.

“We would really like to talk to any business in West Sussex that has or is producing PPE that could be donated to or purchased by the County Council.”

Examples of PPE needed are:

• Hand sanitiser gel (greater than 60% alcohol)
• Hand sanitiser gel dispensers
• Disposable shoes, overalls and plastic aprons (single use) – CE marked
• Eye protection EN166:2001 Frame Marking 3
• Disposable gloves (single use) EN:374/5 (Viral protection)/nitrile purple/ nitrile blue
• Fluid repellent surgical mask (single use) Type 11R medical use

The Sussex Resilience Forum (SRF), which brings together public service agencies in responding to COVID-19, has a full list of PPE required on its website: www.sussex.police.uk/srf. In addition to the items on the SRF list, there is an urgent need for sanitiser gel dispenser bottles (ideally not larger than 1 ltr and flip lid or hand pump preferred).

All PPE items need to conform to the correct safety standards – detailed specifications are available on the gov.uk website.

If your business may be able to help in any way, please email [email protected] and the council will get in touch with you.