Latest figures show that, as of yesterday (Monday 8 June, 2020), a total of 597,391 items have been provided to frontline workers including care provider staff, social workers, bin crews and NHS and other health service staff to enable them to continue delivering essential support to residents.
They include over 150,000 masks, nearly 270,000 pairs of gloves, over 172,000 aprons and gowns, 425 litres of hand sanitisers and 3,435 items of eyewear.
Some 114,004 items were distributed to providers which have not been able to get them through their usual channels in the week ending 1 June, with a peak of 122,138 items distributed the week before. The council expects to have distributed 1,000,000 items of PPE within the next month.
The council has purchased hundreds of thousands of items, as well as receiving a wide range of PPE from businesses and individuals who responded to a citywide appeal for donations in April.
Councillor Linda Leach, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “We're determined to do all we can to keep our city’s frontline staff safe as they continue their vital work to support people throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
"Despite a global shortage, we've been able to source vital items of PPE and had a tremendous response for donations from people and businesses in Wolverhampton.
“We’re continuing to work as quickly as we can to ensure we get the kit out to those frontline staff who need it, not just those working for the council but also for local care providers and other organisations who have found it hard to get PPE through their normal channels.
“I’d like to thank everyone who is involved in this process, in particular our commissioning team who are liaising with providers about the PPE they need, and our Community Equipment Service who have taken on the complex job of distributing items to organisations around the city.”
The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at GOV.UK and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at Coronavirus advice and information. There’s lots of advice on how people can protect themselves and their families from coronavirus from the NHS at Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The council’s Stay Safe, Be Kind campaign offers clear and simple advice about how people can help themselves, and how they can support others who may be particularly vulnerable at this time. For more information, please visit Stay Safe, Be Kind.
