7 Practical Ways to Support the NHS This Week
7 Practical Ways to Support the NHS This Week
If you’re feeling a bit helpless, here are 7 ways that you can make a positive difference to those working in the NHS in the fight against Covid-19.
1) Homemade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Social media is awash with ideas for producing items for creatives who do not have viral symptoms. For example, people are using 3D printers to make protective visors, respirator masks, and even door-opening devices to minimise contact between hands and surfaces. If you have access to a 3D printer, you can find instructions on Thingiverse.com, or go to prusaprinters.org for the pattern for the Prusa Face Shield. This website also provides tips on minimising contamination in your manufacturing environment.
If you’re a dab hand with a needle and thread, there are aprons, masks, headbands and scrubs to choose from – as well as simple drawstring bags for staff to place their uniforms in to wash safely. Some hospital websites have their own instructions for the items they require. There are also plenty of videos on YouTube.com (try ‘How to SEW a Medical FACE MASK’ by Erica Ardnt) or Vimeo.com (try ‘GH Face Mask Tutorial’). If you prefer instructions, not videos, try www.sewcanshe.com.
Contact your local trust or surgery to check which are collecting homemade PPE, and the safest way to get it to our healthcare warriors. It might not be (probably won’t be) OK to turn up unannounced with your marvellous creations.
2) Sit Tight
Not everyone has a 3D printer lying around or can wield a sewing machine. That’s OK. Just by staying at home and following the social distancing guidelines you will play your part.
3) Look after yourself, and your household.
While you’re waiting for the world to start turning again, focus on keeping yourself and your household healthy of body and mind.
We know the drill – nutritious food, plenty of sleep, and water. Restricting alcohol. Staying connected, keeping occupied, finding safe ways to get fresh air and daily exercise. Limiting journeys outside the home, and washing your hands. A lot.
Not only does this relieve additional stress on health services but you might well emerge from isolation as a beautiful butterfly.
By the way, this might feel like a good time to do jobs round the house, but it’s probably not the time to try doing your own roofing. Stay safe.
4) Give
Some hospitals have appealed for donations of various items for staff. This will likely vary from hospital to hospital, with some not accepting donations at all – so please check beforehand.
For example, Manchester Children’s Hospital has its own charity which is able to facilitate distribution across five Manchester sites of the food and toiletries they’ve requested. Other places are accepting new, unused PPE – some NHS trusts have set up procurement departments specifically to handle this.
Other hospitals have asked people not to bring in items as part of their stringent infection control measures. Royal Bolton Hospital has put out a statement appreciating the kind gesture, but directing those with goods they’d like to donate to consider local charities Bolton at Home and Urban Outreach instead. Any organisation that works to keep the community healthy has a knock-on benefit to the NHS.
At Southport & Ormskirk hospitals, we have created designated safe drop off points and can coordinate donations from there. Alternatively there’s an Amazon Wishlist instead. If you’d like to purchase an item for a member of staff at this hospital, please get in touch at hello@boo-consulting.com and we’ll send you the link.
5) Donate
You can also simply make a cash donation. It doesn’t have to be huge. The best way is probably to find a charity that supports the NHS, which you can do by visiting nhscharitiestogether.co.uk.
There are also various CrowdFunding campaigns for equipment, such as ‘Masks for NHS Heroes’ (www.crowdfunder.co.uk/masks4nhsheroes). As of early April, this fundraiser has collected over a million pounds, a quarter of which came from the actor James McAvoy. A fiver from you will do just fine.
6) Volunteer
A few weeks ago the government put a call out for volunteers to help with such things as delivering medicines or picking up and dropping off patients. Here’s the link for this – NHS Volunteer Responders: www.goodsamapp.org/NHS
At the moment, registration is paused while the first wave of applications are processed, since these numbers have far exceeded original expectations. It’s worth checking back every so often, if you’re keen to help.
In the meantime, your local CVS is probably co-ordinating a volunteer response in your local area. Remember, anything that keeps your community healthy helps the NHS.
7) Contact
Do you know anybody working to fight covid 19? Send them a personal message of gratitude and support. If they are a neighbour, you could even make them dinner and leave it on their doorstep!
DON’T FORGET – it’s not just hospitals; surgeries and those working the community may also need support. Follow them on social media and join any online noticeboards for your local area to see requests for help.
If you’re not sure where to start or if you know your nearest hospital or surgery isn’t accepting donations, talk to us at hello@boo-consulting.com and we’ll see if one of the hospitals we are working with can make use of it.
Stay Safe,
Team Boo.
