Volunteers supporting NHS services with PPE deliveries

Their willingness to give up their own time is in the spotlight for this year’s national Volunteer Week (June 1-7).

The best mates volunteered to provide daily deliveries of PPE including gowns, hand gel and gloves to community hospitals and nurses to help Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.

Andy is a self-employed property developer and Wayne is a former retained firefighter for 16 years at Sleaford Fire Station who usually works as an electrician/satellite tv aerial installer. The pair decided they wanted to fill their unexpected spare time with something worthwhile.

Andy said: “My wife works for Lincolnshire Community Health Services and suggested I could volunteer to deliver much needed PPE across the county to hospitals and community nurses.

“I’ve been out and about five days a week with my van packed full of PPE. I’ve been careful to follow the Government guidance and maintain social distancing – ringing people’s door bells and leaving the PPE on the ground outside.

“It’s so rewarding and it’s the right thing to do. You just have to think about the consequences of PPE not getting to those who need it and the impact it would have on nurses and patients.”

Wayne added: “The demand for PPE was so great it meant that Andy couldn’t cover all the deliveries across the county, so I was only too happy to give him a hand.

“It’s been incredibly worthwhile volunteering to help the NHS, to help the local community and it’s kept me sane giving me something to do during lockdown.

“Volunteering is about doing something for the local community – something I know only too well from my time as a retained firefighter.”

Ceri Lennon, Director of People and Innovation at LCHS said: “It’s thanks to the selfless support of local people like Andy and Wayne that we have been able to maintain the services our patients rely on at this very challenging time.”