A MEDICAL group that has shared personal protective equipment with other facilities in need has thanked individuals and organisations for donating PPE.
Alchester Medical Group, which runs three GP surgeries in Biceste, says it is grateful for the donations of PPE to its staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
Through this supply, it has also been able to help other health care providers with their shortages such as Wyndham Hall care home in Bicester.
Local medical school students have been providing support at the Bicester surgeries and across the NHS during the pandemic.
Rhea Narang, a third year medical student from the University of Buckingham, has been assisting in Alchester’s dispensary.
She said: “I wanted to volunteer to help with the Covid-19 relief, even in a small way.
"A lot of my responsibilities fall behind the scenes, but this means that the dispensary staff can focus on communicating with individual patients and I can help with the routine things that need to be done.
“There is a massive show of community support. Volunteer drivers are delivering medication to the vulnerable, and recently a local community kitchen dropped off sandwiches for all of the staff here and a representative of the Body Shop kindly came to give us some products.
“It has, of course, been challenging at times but it has been a great to see the major role GP surgeries and pharmacies play in times like this. It’s opened up my eyes to just how vital each individual role in a team is, and how they each work together to keep patients safe.”
Global shortages of PPE hit the country’s healthcare workers hard. As lockdown eases and face masks become more in demand, supplies are still important.
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Lesley Taylor, healthcare assistant at the Alchester Medical Group said: “It’s been amazing to see all the donations that have flooded in during the pandemic. They have come from lots of different places.
“All really lovely gestures, and it’s wonderful to see everyone coming together to support us and to help keep us all as safe as possible.”
To donate items, email alchester.medicalgroup@nhs.net.
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