Morrisons in Todmorden provide 1,000 masks to Hebden Bridge home care service

Welcome Independent Living put out a plea on social media for help to generate more personal protective equipment, and received help from Todmorden Morrisons.

Eileen Kelly, from Welcome Independent Living, said: “As a registered care provider with the CQC (Care Quality Commission) we received an initial supply of 300 masks.

“To put this into context, our 130 strong care staff deliver 3,500 care calls every week to the elderly and vulnerable. 300 masks would therefore last for about three days, if used sparingly.

“If we had to purchase more masks - as it happens, we couldn’t source any - they cost around £1.50 each.
“To put this into perspective, we make a profit of £1 per care call. Many calls require two carers, therefore, if each was to wear a mask, that’s a cost of £3 per call.

“We therefore decided to put out a plea for masks on social media, via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

“Within two hours, Shavon Pointon, Community Champion from Morrisons in Todmorden, contacted us offering to donate and deliver some masks.

“You can imagine our surprise when she arrived at the office with 1,000 masks and also threw in a few packs of gloves for good measure. What an amazing gesture and an unexpected delivery service.

“We have since received a further supply of gloves from Calderdale Council and would add that we have received nothing but support from them.

“They have reassigned many of their staff to focus 100 per cent on sourcing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensure that it is distributed to registered care providers.

“We are also contacted daily by one of Calderdale’s link workers to check that everything is running smoothly. We cannot praise them highly enough.

“Finally, we are working with smaller care providers, such as Equal Care Co-op, who, as a new organisation, are not registered with the CQC, by providing them with small supplies of masks, gloves and hand sanitizers from our stock.”

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