Birmingham-based Thomas Ball Ltd dropped off a shipment of gloves, masks, hand sanitisers and visors in Brierley Hill yesterday. (wed)

They will be used by frontline staff working for Dudley Council.

The equipment will be used to complement existing supplies and ensure frontline workers including care staff, working with the most vulnerable including children and elderly residents, have the protection they need to do their jobs safely.

Council bosses have appealed for more businesses to follow suit and come forward with donations – with dentists and vets in particular believed to be most likely to have the items that are needed.

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said:

This is a brilliant and much-needed donation of crucial equipment by Thomas Ball Ltd, which we are massively thankful for.

We need to boost our supplies to make sure we can protect our staff as they courageously continue to do all they can to support our most vulnerable residents.

I would urge anyone else able to donate PPE equipment to come forward – we are all in this together and we need to do all we can to help protect our frontline heroes.

The council is asking businesses to donate any spare PPE they currently have in stock including:

• Fluid repellent disposable gowns – EN13795 
• Nitrile non-sterile gloves - EN 374
• Plastic aprons – category 1
• Eyewear and face protection - EN166 
• FFP2 and FFP3 masks - EN 149
• IIR Surgical masks - EN14683

Please note, products must be within their use by date and must adhere to the relevant standards.

Businesses able to donate can contact the council by calling 01384 814444 or emailing corporate.procurement@dudley.gov.uk.

For more advice and support about coronavirus go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus or www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus.