A hospice is appealing for vital cleaning supplies to help it carry on caring for its patients in the face of Covid-19.

St Clare Hospice is making an urgent appeal for donations of vital cleaning supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) so that staff can continue to safely support people with end of life and palliative care whilst minimising the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

The Hastingwood-based hospice is calling on nearby businesses to give ‘gifts in kind’ to support local people’s care at the end of life, hoping that many will come forward to offer their wares as part of a crucially-needed community effort.

The appeal comes in light of the recent shortages faced by many hospices and healthcare providers across the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Things like hand sanitiser gel and soap, sanitising wipes, protective face masks, and medical scrubs feature on the list of supplies needed more than ever to help prevent contamination.

The list of supplies needed consists of various items, from vital cleaning equipment and PPE to communication devices:

Hand sanitiser gel – 30 small bottles are used per week by the Inpatient Unit staff and Hospice at Home teams visiting patients in their own homes, providing extra prevention against contamination.

Hand wash (liquid) – 30 bottles for regular handwashing – which is the best defence against contamination.

Washing up liquid – 10 bottles in stock on the hospice site can be used as a back-up for shortages of hand wash.

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