Lambeth Firefighters volunteer to assemble face shields for the NHS
ShieldNHS, a temporary not-for-profit organisation, has formed to donate and assemble face shields to the NHS. With the help of firefighters at Lambeth station, London, ShieldNHS is on track to deliver 40,000 face shields to hospitals around the country within the next week. London firefighters have turned their hands to shield production over the last few days, creating an amazing 7000 face shields to support their colleagues in the medical emergency services and care sector. Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has created a standard operating procedure to minimise the risks with the disposable face shields. They have gone through rigorous testing by the infectious control and clinical engineering innovation teams and have been approved for use during the Covid-19 pandemic. Addenbrooke’s has also agreed to share the procedures and technical file to speed up the process for other trusts to use the PPE. Founded by Lucy Jung, ShieldNHS started at the end of March to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS workers. The organisation comprises of medics, engineers and volunteers who worked to bring an American shield design to the UK that meets Essential Safety and Performance Requirements by law. “I couldn’t believe it when a team firefighters got in touch and offered to help, they have been fantastic and have really made a difference to our mission,” says Lucy Jung, the creative mind behind ShieldNHS. “It’s allowed us to speed up our whole production process and get shields to frontline NHS staff even quicker than we had ever dreamed”. Station Commander Paul McClenaghan from CBRN Team at Lambeth Fire Station comments: “We have so far built 9000 shields and delivered all of them to NHS hospitals. We are looking forward to building the next batch of 3000. The London fire Brigade is dedicated to protecting the people of London and our NHS.” The face shields being produced follow the Badger Shield open source design, originally created by US company Delve. The component parts have been made using private funding so far and a public crowdfunding campaign to raise £40,000 is due to increase output and make another 40 thousand shields for distribution, with £10,995 already raised towards the next batch. The assembly of the units is being taken on by dedicated volunteers including the Lambeth firefighters. There’s ongoing website fundraising on both Facebook and Twitter. For similar articles visit our features section
New online platform created to source and exchange PPE
A UK software company has launched a free platform to supply, sell and exchange personal protection equipment (PPE) throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Shoothill has launched www.ppeexchange.co.uk, a free to use service to connect independent, voluntary and public sector buyers including care homes and other organisations with suppliers of PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak. Within 24 hours of the launch there were already 700,000 requests registered on the site. Shoothill Managing Director Rod Plummer said the portal, which the firm designed and implemented in just six days, aimed to provide urgent protection for keyworkers who are being put at risk through a lack of available PPE. He said: “Across the country, supplies of PPE are in short supply and, at times, non-existent. We have heard of care homes, where our many vulnerable friends and family are housed, and home care agencies working in the community having to resort to improvised masks and aprons fashioned from bin bags. “Mobilising PPE to get to the frontlines is essential to ensure the safest possible working conditions and, critically, to slow the wave of infection and save lives. Time is of the essence now and for the foreseeable future, with shortages and bottlenecks putting more and more people at risk, every effort is needed to tackle shortages.” Shoothill’s previous customers include PETO, for which it developed an intelligent procurement system for NHS products. It designed and developed PPEExchange.co.uk in less than six days over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend from an initial idea from PETO, marrying its portfolio of software and web development skills with PETO’s expertise, knowledge of social care and connections The PPE Exchange is entirely free for all users to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Simon Jeavons, Chief Operating Officer at Shoothill, commented: “The greater the user base, the more positive an impact this system can have, given the connections created between users coupled with the power of the data gathered. “The site has been running for just 24 hours and we have seen enormous interest and as of 11am on April 16, there were buyer requests for nearly 700,000 items.” PPE Exchange also collects data through user analytics to assess which products are in the highest demand and where the greatest shortages are. This information can then be used for a national coordinated response to prioritise the country’s most urgent needs. Shoothill has more than 15 years experience developing software on tight deadlines, having previously worked on high profile and time sensitive mission-critical systems and marketing campaigns. The firm’s past applications on flooding and government spending boomed online shortly after launch, delivering key information to a large public audience during challenging times.
PAMMS shortlisted in National Technology Awards
An innovative technology solution for the health and social care sector, developed by HAS Technology, has been shortlisted for ‘Digital Transformation of the Year’ in the National Technology Awards. The annual awards are the most comprehensive celebration of technological advancements within the UK and the ‘Digital Transformation of the Year’ category is set to champion the tech making the most exceptional developments within their respective sectors. With local authorities facing care quality and service sustainability issues – a situation exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic – using digital resources can save time and deliver vital intelligence. PAMMS (Provider Assessment and Market Management Solution) was developed by HAS Technology in partnership with 11 councils in the Association of Directors for Adult Social Services (ADASS) East region to provide a consistent, future-proof solution that brings together market insight intelligence, providing market shaping tools and services. The solution exceeded all objectives, seeing a capital saving of £550K, a 10% improvement in measurable provider quality and a new level of performance transparency that allowed risks within care environments to be identified much sooner. Ben Chance, Head of PAMMS, commented; “We’re thrilled that we have been recognised as a technology provider that it is helping the health and social care sector. We’ve worked very closely with senior industry stakeholders to develop digital solutions that meet their challenges.” The awards ceremony is planned to be held in November at the London Marriott Hotel. Since the award shortlisting was announced, the PAMMS Market Insight module has been deployed across the capital to allow London ADASS to collect essential data about the rapidly changing COVID-19 solution, reinforcing the adaptability and responsiveness of this digital tool. For more information about PAMMS, visit https://welcome.pamms.co.uk/
Charity Releases ‘Self-isolation Survival Guide’ To Support Vulnerable Older Adults
Charity Vegetarian for Life, which supports older vegans and vegetarians, has put together some tips on preparing as best you can, and how you might still keep in touch with others, during this challenging period. Another meal is possible. When you have seemingly bare cupboards, or have bought whatever you were able to nab, the Supercook recipe search engine might save the day. Simply type in the ingredients that you have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer, and it will come up with a raft of recipes you can make without leaving the house to buy more. If shopping really isn’t an option, Vegetarian for Life has a great guide called Veggie Meals to Your Door. It details all of the companies that can deliver vegetarian and vegan meals – either hot, chilled or frozen – straight to your home. The guide can be found here or we can post a copy to you, free of charge. Please contact us on 0161 257 0887 for more information. It’s important to keep in contact with your friends and family, so why not make use of programs such as Facebook, Skype, and Whatsapp for sharing photos and a (virtual) face-to-face chat? Vegetarian for Life runs the Mature Vegans and Veggies UK group on Facebook, which already has over 1,400 members, and also a veggie pen- and phone-pal scheme, exclusively for older vegetarians and vegans. Full details are available on our website. Making nutrition a priority is important for a healthy immune system. And thankfully there are some key things you can do to keep it simple and eat well, even when housebound. Pick ambient foods, such as canned goods, pastas, rice and beans. Make the most of your freezer if you have one, where you can store breads, vegetables, fruits and more. Stock a good variety of foods where possible, so that you don’t rely too heavily on items that might easily run out at the supermarket. Vegetarian for Life has compiled a handy guide to what to buy for your store cupboard and freezer, here. Make the most of some time at home. If you are having to self-isolate at home, you may well start to feel lonely. Keep your spirits lifted by exercising, watching TV, reading a good book, or listening to the radio, with the window open, for a light breeze of fresh air. Why not start that new hobby you’ve always wanted to have a go at? Or take advantage of the time of year and begin sowing seeds in the garden for a few veggies of your own creation. For inspiration, check out the incredible 81-year-old vegan whose mission is to complete one million press-ups, here. We hope that you and yours stay well during this challenging time. If you’re experiencing any difficulties, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on 0161 257 0887. You can also find out what shopping and home delivery services your local Age UK offers, here.
Negative stereotypes about elderly could be putting their health at risk
Stereotyping people in later life and treating all over-65s as a single group could be damaging their physical and mental health, according to a report from national older people’s charity, Independent Age. Through this new research, Independent Age shines a light on those who are least seen and challenges the false assumptions about people aged 65 and over, such as them all being financially secure and living care free lives. The individuals featured in the new report – some living in poverty, others caring for family members and many living with long term physical and mental health conditions – are also likely to face significant challenges during the current coronavirus pandemic. The report – titled In Focus: Experiences of older age in England – uses a combination of quantitative analysis in partnership with City University of London, and qualitative research of older people’s experiences, to highlight the voices that are seldom heard among those who are 65 and over. One contributor Joan, 75, told the charity, “I thought I’d be wealthier as I got older, but it’s going the other way. I never thought I’d go downhill as I have health-wise. I walk bent over now, because of my back. I would have thought it’d happen later than it has.” The report found that: It is now more important than ever that these stories are told, and that policy makers and industry leaders consider the needs, wishes and capabilities of the wide range of people in later life when planning policies and programmes. For many people over 65, the Covid-19 outbreak has magnified existing problems and surfaced new ones. A separate survey of over to 2,600 people over 65, carried out recently by Independent Age, found that almost one in eight had heard, or had been on the receiving end of, ageist language during the crisis. These misguided views have the potential to cause lasting damage to individuals, as well as sending societal attitudes towards older people backwards. Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said, “Growing older can be a really positive experience, but as this reports highlights, there are still too many people who face daily challenges. We’re currently all living through extremely difficult times, but there are groups of people in later life who are even more likely to be vulnerable, and they’re the ones we really need to look out for and listen to. “At a time when many people 65 and over are more isolated than ever, I’ve been shocked and disappointed to see an increasing amount of negative and discriminatory language targeted towards older people during the coronavirus pandemic. We need to start seeing people in later life as individuals who are valuable to society, and change how we talk about our older population.” The report sets out six tests to apply when planning policies and programmes for older people, which the charity hopes other policy makers and industry leaders will adopt and follow. These are: Further information about In Focus: Experiences of older age in England can be found at independentage.org/in-focus
Yorkshire mattress manufacturer works round-the-clock to supply NHS
A Wakefield company which designs and manufactures foam mattresses is helping the NHS meet the urgent need for thousands of extra beds by dedicating all production to its healthcare division and mobilising its entire workforce which is working 24 hours a day to meet demand. GNG Group, a specialist foam manufacturer of sports, healthcare, safety and mattress products, has paused production in all other divisions in order to enable a 90-strong team to focus on production of healthcare mattresses destined for the NHS Nightingale project and several key NHS suppliers manufacturing hospital beds. Having recently been awarded ‘key supplier’ status by the NHS, GNG’s 40,000sq ft production facility is now operating three shifts 24/7; and has increased the capacity of its healthcare division tenfold. “Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen a rapid increase in orders to help meet the critical care needs of the NHS in the fight against COVID-19 and, like hundreds of companies throughout the UK, we are committed to doing everything we can to help,” explains Phil Whittell, managing director of GNG Group. “We have a skilled and committed team here who have risen to the challenge, enabling us to supply thousands of healthcare mattresses in the last month alone. Incredibly, we’ve received the equivalent of six months of orders in the last five days and we currently have 16,000 medical mattresses shipped or on order since the crisis started. The entire team, from administration staff through to production, are working flat out to meet this demand for critical products – they’ve even volunteered to work over the Easter bank holidays to keep production running. This is the biggest challenge the company has faced in its 45-year history and I am extremely proud of the part our staff are playing in helping the NHS during this healthcare crisis.” As well as having thousands of healthcare mattresses on order for the UK, GNG is also receiving enquiries from Europe and the US. Phil continues: “It’s fantastic to see companies throughout the NHS supply chain pulling together to increase production of vital equipment and I think the staff in these businesses, who are sometimes overlooked, deserve a huge thank you for their heroic efforts.” GNG Group is also supporting Food 4 Heroes by donating funds to the initiative which provides free meals to NHS staff at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and is planned to be rolled out to other hospitals. For more articles please visit our features section
Reckless care home bosses disqualified
Reckless bosses of two care homes in the Midlands have been disqualified after they diverted council funds before abandoning elderly residents and staff. Husband and wife, Darren William Lloyd (53) and Emma Lloyd (49), have been banned for a total of 8-and-a-half years, while Darren’s brother, Adrian Jeffrey Lloyd (50), has been disqualified for 5 years. All three directors are from Wolverhampton and after signing disqualification undertakings, the trio are banned from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company. Elysian Care Limited was incorporated in January 1997 to purchase and operate a residential care home called Knoll House in Penn, Wolverhampton. The company acquired two further care homes but sold one of them in 2011, leaving Knoll House and The Homestead, based in Stourbridge, in Elysian Care’s portfolio. Elysian Care, however, began to struggle financially and in addition to not providing adequate services to the residents, the company failed to pay key suppliers and staff. By September 2014, Darren, Adrian, Emma Lloyd abandoned the two care homes, which led to the local authorities having to step in and make emergency payments to ensure the residents were cared for. As part of their efforts to rescue Elysian Care, the company’s bankers’ appointed administrators, who went onto to report to the Insolvency Service that Darren, Adrian and Emma were responsible for several instances of misconduct. Darren Lloyd instructed a member of staff to provide new bank details to the local authority responsible for paying the fees of some of the residents of Knoll House. The local authority, however, was not informed that the bank account they were paying into was in the name of Darren Lloyd. In total, more than £500,000 of resident’s fees provided by the local authority between September 2012 and October 2014 was paid into Darren Lloyd’s personal bank account. More than £290,000 of that amount has not been accounted for nor has it been explained whether it was spent on the running of Elysian Care or the care homes’ elderly residents. Further enquiries confirmed that the trio abandoned the two care homes and left no funds to provide services for at least 30 residents. This meant staff had to buy essential supplies out of their own pockets, while the two local authorities had to make emergency payments to support the residents. One local authority had to step in to reimburse staff’s wages, as well as pay for food and hygiene provisions, while the second council was forced to relocate the residents. And all three directors were remis in maintaining sufficient books and records, while also failing to supply a statement of affairs to the Administrator. The trio contested the proceedings for over three years but elected to accept disqualification undertakings before their trial was due. Emma Lloyd was the first to have their ban come into effect on 14 February and her disqualification lasts for 3-and-a-half years. Darren Lloyd’s 5-year ban came into effect on 19 February 2020, while his brother’s ban was effective a day later. David Brooks, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said: “Darren, Adrian and Emma Lloyd were unscrupulous care home bosses. Not only were they culpable for diverting more than £500,000 of funds intended for the care of their residents but they abandoned the people they were responsible for and left staff and local authorities to step in and pick up the pieces. Directors are expected to operate in the best interest of the company and by removing Darren, Adrian and Emma from the corporate arena will ensure their victims will be protected from further harm.” For similar articles please visit our features section.
App deployed free of charge to help NHS and wider care sector
With tens of thousands of retired medics asked to return to work and a quarter of a million volunteers needed to help NHS through the coronavirus crisis, OurPeople has developed a free version of its popular team communication platform, specifically for the NHS and wider care sector. Crucially, this will enable dissemination of vital information to teams, without the chatter and noise prevalent through most other workplace engagement platforms and consumer-based Apps. OurPeople Now, which can be deployed within days, will enable managers of frontline services and other care sector workers to send vital comms, including images and files, to doctors, nurses, ancillary staff and care workers, alerting them to critical information and any changes to their working practices. Communication can be targeted, ensuring information is relevant, and will help to keep teams operational and informed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The move comes as Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced a new hospital, Nightingale Hospital, will be opened at the ExCel Centre in East London, providing a further 4,000 beds for people struck down with the deadly virus. OurPeople Now is GDPR compliant and company controlled, and allows management and staff to: Instantly communicate to teams in real time Share documents and video files View real-time reporting of when comms are delivered and when they have been read OurPeople has seen a 55% increase in messaging and broadcasts in the past week through the full version of the platform, with existing clients taking advantage of a 95% engagement and read rate by their teams, ensuring they are up to date with relevant information as the COVID-19 situation develops. In light of the pandemic, the team behind the platform has been working 24/7 to develop OurPeople Now, a basic version of the App, to enable businesses to communicate remotely with care staff for free until the crisis passes. Founder and CEO of OurPeople, Ross McCaw, says: “In these unprecedented times it’s more important than ever that we pull together to do whatever we can to help each other. As our specialism has always been communicating to deskless or remote workers, we understand what’s needed to keep these teams running, engaged and informed. One crucial piece of feedback we had for the development of this free App, was to enable managers to communicate without the noise of non vital chatter. For the NHS and businesses and organisations within the care environment we are offering OurPeople Now for free, for the duration of the crisis, to help keep teams running.” OurPeople was founded in 2016 and is already used by well-known brands in the UK and the USA, including Serco, Virgin Active and Paulton’s Park, who send hundreds of thousands of broadcasts to employees on a weekly basis. There is also the ability to communicate by SMS text message with people that don’t own a smartphone. Anyone interested should email hello@ourpeople.com.
Help us help others – volunteers needed in time of crisis
Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare call for volunteers to help older people during coronavirus crisis. Luxury care home providers, Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare are calling on members of the public to help them help others as volunteers needed during these challenging times. As well as the brave, hardworking and committed staff working in the NHS, team members across care homes and other care settings have been going above and beyond to keep older, vulnerable people safe and well. There is now the opportunity for members of the local community to help do their bit too. Natalie-Jane Macdonald, UK CEO said: “Like the NHS, we are looking for volunteers to lend a hand so that we can continue providing the best possible care and support to residents in our homes, as well as people living in the surrounding areas. It’s important we all come together – whether it’s by volunteering for the NHS, or with a social care provider – we can all make a huge difference.” No previous care experience is required. Volunteers would be asked to visit the homes and could help with the following: Assisting with meals and drinks Supporting residents to FaceTime their loved ones Accompanying residents when they go out for walks in the garden Supporting with fun activities (in very small groups) Talking with, reading to and spending time with residents Supporting housekeeping, laundry and kitchen staff as required Collecting prescriptions and medicines as required Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, is also complementing the NHS’ message with ‘social care needs you too’. Read his letter here. Martin Green, CEO at Care England, said: “The adult social care sector too will require the support of the nation in the coming months. We encourage those who are willing and able, to do so by joining the adult social care workforce.” If are you interested in finding out more about Sunrise and Gracewell or volunteering with them, visit the websites: www.sunrise-care.co.uk and www.gracewell.co.uk. For the latest job vacancies click here.
