Northampton hospital rallies to deliver supplies to Ukraine medical centres
A Ukrainian doctor practising in the UK has teamed up with various different medical groups to deliver over 110 tonnes of urgent supplies across Ukraine. In response to direct requests from doctors in the war-torn country, the Three Shires Hospital in Northampton has worked with the Ukrainian doctors’ union (Ukraine Medical Association) and the British Red Cross to identify needs in war-hit hospitals. Sergey Tadtayev, a Consultant Urologist Surgeon, has galvanised his Circle Health Group colleagues to gather 10-truck loads including 200 pallets of vital kit and medical supplies from across their national network of 53 hospitals.
: Northampton bin strike called off after workers win ‘significant’ new pay deal Ventilators, crutches, walking frames, respiratory masks, scrubs, bandages, wound kits, operating tables and other medical supplies have been stockpiled from medical centres across the country and delivered directly to the doors of five hospitals in Ukraine. Upon receipt of the urgent supplies, the hospitals distribute a portion to local community hospitals in a hub and spoke model.
A team of volunteer hauliers from the UK, Poland and Ukraine have made the journey on a weekly basis since March 15 They have delivered urgent supplies, navigating their way through war-torn regions and areas of conflict to reach the hospitals in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykoliav, Odessa and Lviv. Dr Sergey Tadtayev said: “My heart breaks for my fellow doctors back home who are fighting heroically to care for the sick and wounded – even as the bombs continue to fall.
Hospitals are struggling to get basic supplies because transport and manufacturing have been so badly disrupted, so I knew I had to do something to help. “Moving 100+ tonnes of medical supplies between hospitals separated by thousands of miles and several borders has been an incredible team effort, and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of my colleagues at Circle Health Group.
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Circle Health Group say they are committed to continuing the weekly delivery programme for as long as the supplies are required. The latest delivery departed the UK on April 13 and arrived at Kharkiv hospitals on Easter Sunday. It contained GBP185,500 of medical equipment loaded on 35 pallets including five ventilators, an operating table, patient monitors, suction tubing and chest drainage sets and sterile gowns.
At Three Shires, Patient Administrator Sophie Luke produced and sold crocheted Ukrainian heart earrings to raise money toward Circle’s combined target of GBP1 million. So far Sophie and her colleagues in the outpatient department have raised over GBP200. Sergey’s appeal and Three Shires Hospital’s efforts have received an extraordinary response from colleagues, with GBP1.4m worth of medical supplies and funds donated by Circle Health Group hospitals, staff and suppliers to date.
Circle Health Group suppliers and partners have also risen to the challenge, with large donations from suppliers including Medical Properties Trust, Rocialle Healthcare, GBUK Group, Intersurgical, Timesco, Chemence, Bunzl, Healthcare Supplies and Supply Chain Solutions, Purple Surgical, RB Medical, June Medical, Toffeln and Cantel. Paolo Pieri, CEO of Circle Health Group, said: “We’re so grateful to the hundreds of people across the country who have contributed to this effort, from staff to partners and suppliers, and the brave drivers who have put themselves at considerable personal risk. “It’s hard to know how to help in the face of such enormous suffering, but as a hospital operator and one of the UK’s largest employers we knew we could provide unique support for hospitals caring for the sick and injured.
“Working directly with Sergey and his Ukrainian medical colleagues we are able to understand their exact needs and get targeted aid to them directly in some of the most difficult parts of the country.”
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