Charity helps provide free PPE to unpaid carers in Hemel Hempstead

A charity in Hertfordshire is helping to provide free personal protective equipment (PPE) to unpaid carers across the county following the Government's coronavirus guidance update.

The Government is now recommending people in England who care for someone they do not live with wear PPE when carrying out that care, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Carers in Hertfordshire, who provide information and services to unpaid family and friend carers, is supporting Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum by distributing PPE to unpaid carers.

The Forum is made up of organisations including health services and Hertfordshire County Council.

If you are an unpaid carer living in Hertfordshire, Carers in Hertfordshire can help you with suitable PPE such as protective gloves, disposable face masks, aprons and face shields.

What you need depends on the care you provide - whether it involves personal care, if you can maintain social distance or not, and if the person is at high risk to COVID-19 due to a health condition.

It is not currently recommended that you wear PPE when caring for someone you live with unless advised to by a healthcare professional.

However, if you are worried because you or the person you care for is coming out of hospital with COVID-19 or at risk of it, please talk to someone at the hospital before discharge or get in touch with Carers in Hertfordshire.

Michèle Stokes, chief executive of Carers in Hertfordshire, said: “Although we have been providing PPE to carers when they have asked for it or needed it, we are pleased the Government has extended free access to PPE to unpaid carers to help them and the people they support keep safe.

"We want to remind unpaid carers that we are there to support you throughout the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

"You can contact us for information or advice related to your caring role and join in our activities online, such as workshops and support groups.”

If you are an unpaid carer supporting someone who is ill, disabled, has a mental health condition or misuses drugs or alcohol, and you would like any PPE or to learn how else Carers in Hertfordshire can support you in your caring role, email the charity at [email protected] or call 01992 58 69 69.

Carers in Hertfordshire provides advice, information and support to unpaid carers - people looking after someone who is elderly, disabled, has a physical or mental illness or who misuses drugs or alcohol.

The charity gives carers a voice with opportunities to meet other carers. For more information about the work Carers in Herforshire does click here.

For the latest Government guidance related to the coronavirus pandemic visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.