ChipsAway donates vital equipment to GP surgery

A GP surgery in Ipswich has thanked ChipsAway for donating personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves and overalls.

Burlington Primary Care had appealed for specific items after checking “every hardware store locally and online and every industrial shop” it could find. Its partner Dr Dean Dorsett said:

“All the distribution centres for PPE…were cleared out by the public, who are understandably scared.”

He described the frustration of many medical institutions:

“There is little realisation that there is no need for the public to have medical masks and the problem it creates for our NHS team.”

The medical centre had even sent out a statement asking members of the public to consider donating their protective masks, offering to collect them from their doors.

When van-based franchise ChipsAway was able to donate PPE to the struggling business, it helped its healthcare professionals continue treating patients. But Burlington Primary Care still needs more supplies.

Dorsett stated:

“Our number one priority for our healthcare team is to stay safe and not to get infected, not to infect their families at home and at their NHS family at work, but most importantly not to infect and harm our vulnerable patients as we continue our work.”

The continuation of many medical institutions relies on healthy supplies of PPE, such as face masks. Without these, Dorsett explained, medical workers can’t treat vulnerable patients. This could have disastrous consequences, not only for their physical health, but for their mental wellbeing too.

Dorsett concluded:

“The viral pandemic has had a big impact on mental health and psychological impact on everyone, from kids to the elderly. We are concerned about our patients’ wellbeing.”

If you live in the Ipswich area and have medical masks or other vital supplies at home, you can help protect those in need. To donate your equipment, just get in touch with Burlington Road Surgery on 01473 211661. Please note, face masks must be FFP2 or FFP3 specification.