UNPAID carers in the Frodsham area, who do not live with the person they care for, can now get free personal protective equipment (PPE).
Cheshire West and Chester Council, in partnership with Cheshire West Carers Support Service, Vivo Carers Choices, and Cheshire Carers Hub are providing free PPE for all unpaid carers, who do not live in the same household as the person they are caring for.
An unpaid carer can be anyone, of any age, who cares, unpaid for a friend or family member, who due to a condition, illness, disability or addiction, cannot cope without their support.
To help with distribution, PPE hubs have been established – but not in Frodsham. Local people will have to travel to Northwich, Winsford, Ellesmere Port and Chester to pick up their PPE.
Hubs will operate on an order and collect service, which will mean that extra resident carers are able to contact Cheshire West Carers Support Service by telephone or email to arrange to pick up a preprepared PPE pack containing masks, gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser.
The hubs are at: Northwich – Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust office, 146 London Road CW9 5HH Monday to Thursday 10.00 – 16.00; Chester – Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust office, The Bluecoat building, CH1 4EE Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00 – 14.00;
Ellesmere Port – Coronation Centre, Coronation Road, CH65 9AB, days and times to be confirmed; Winsford – Meadow Bank Lodge 12 Green Lane, CW7 2BP, days and times to be confirmed.
Contact Cheshire West Carers Support to arrange a collection on 0300 102 0008 or email advice@cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org
All collections are via prebooked appointments only and all social distancing guidelines must be followed. For those carers who are unable to physically travel to any of the distribution hubs a limited delivery service will also operate.
Cclr Val Armstrong (pictured), cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “It is great news that our unpaid extra resident carers are being offered this additional layer of protection free of charge to keep both themselves, and the people they provide such vital services for, safe.
“Our unpaid carers continue to do an amazing job of providing vital care services in the face of very real challenges brought on by this pandemic.”
It is not currently recommended that you wear PPE when caring for someone you live with unless advised to by a healthcare professional.