Firefighters are continuing to step up to prevent the spread of coronavirus, this time by delivering medicines, care packages and food to vulnerable Londoners who are being shielded from Covid-19.
Fire crews are collecting prescriptions from pharmacies and delivering them straight to the door of those being advised they should have very limited social interaction during the current pandemic. Food and care packages are also being transported to people’s homes. These include food parcels made for patients discharged from Whipps Cross Hospital and food bank packages for example delivered in Croydon by firefighters.
While delivering vital medicine and food, crews are also giving fire safety advice at people’s front doors, while social distancing.
The Brigade’s Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operational Delivery and Assurance, Richard Mills, said:
“I never doubted for one minute that our staff would step up and adapt to the new and significant challenges our capital is facing due to Covid-19.I’m immensely proud that they are making sure vulnerable residents are getting vital medicine and food delivered to their door and that they are not only delivering, but producing essential PPE for the health workers.
“London is working together in helping prevent the spread of Covid-19 and as well as maintaining a full emergency service we’re prepared to assist other partners to help those in need taking every safety precaution necessary to protect our communities and our staff.”
Firefighters are getting vital protective equipment to frontline health staff. The Brigade’s Operation Seacole has so far helped deliver over two million items of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and local arrangements between London fire crews and the NHS are assisting those in hospitals and care homes.
The Brigade’s specialist Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) team, alongside Lambeth crews have made over 17,000 protective face shields for hospital staff to date and 29 boxes have been received by Central and North West London Trust (CNWL).
Claire Murdoch, CNWL Chief Executive said:
“I want to thank the kind hearted Lambeth firefighters for this generous donation! I’m really blown over by their kindness, and to the group Shield NHS for making these for the NHS. We will use it wisely and it will help us to protect our staff who are on the frontline, working hard to care for our patients.”
Staff at Heston and Richmond fire stations have made over 13,000 PPE packs. Each pack consists of two aprons, a pair of gloves and a face mask, all in a bio hazard bag. They have been made for Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust for use by community staff who are visiting vulnerable residents in need of medical care.”