THOUSANDS of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been delivered to care homes and hospices in North West thanks to the efforts of 20 Rotary clubs across Greater Manchester.

The PPE has gone to eight hospices and 22 voluntary care homes after the Rotary clubs in the organisation’s North West District (1285) chipped in over £8,000.
Some 5,000 face masks and 520 visors are among the consignment, all sourced in the UK and delivered on May 1 by dedicated Rotary members, for use by care workers in the hospices and voluntary care homes in Wigan, Bolton, Salford, and Tameside.

In the Wigan borough, the Rotary clubs involved were: Astley; Leigh; Newton & District Jubilee; Newton-le-Willows; Tyldesley with Atherton; Wigan.
Rtn Adam Vause a member of Astley Rotary Club, said: “We wanted some do something to help our communities in these tough times.”

“The health and caring services are in dire need of this PPE equipment, especially in the care homes, and this was the least Rotary, ‘as people of action’ could do.”
In the Wigan Borough, masks and visors were donated to Ashwood, Belong Atherton and Wigan, Montrose Hall, Cardinal Heenan House, Kingshill, Lime House, Wigan and Leigh Hospice and Abbeyfield Care Home.

Rtn Adam Vause also paid tribute to Brian Prescott of Newton & District Jubilee Rotary Club who assisted in transporting PPE equipment to care homes and hospices in Wigan and Leigh area.

Hannah Holmes, Ward Nurse of Wigan and Leigh Hospice, said. “We are so appreciative of everyone that has been working really hard supporting us.’’
Their work is not yet finished. Next week, Rotary’s North West District 1285 will be delivering 10-inch Samsung tablets to the hospices in Greater Manchester to aid communication at a time family visits are totally restricted and patients long to see their loved ones.

Rotary is one of the world's largest service organisations with 1.2 million members around the world.

Organisers are meanwhile urging the public to find a nearby Rotary club on Facebook or Twitter to see what they are doing to support local and world communities.