Kind donations thanks to Inverclyde HSCP staff
THOUGHTFUL Inverclyde health and social care staff helped collect a mountain of food and toiletries for people recovering from illness in hospital and at home.
Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) workers based at the Fitzgerald Centre in Greenock set up a donation station outside in aid of Compassionate Inverclyde, which produces boxes of essential items predominately for patients being treated at Inverclyde Royal or who are being discharged and live on their own, as well as those isolating because of coronavirus.
The facility is being used by the HSCP as a temporary base for delivering vital care and support to vulnerable residents, including hot meals, and as a personal protective equipment (PPE) hub.
Those visiting for safety gear responded by handing in huge amounts of goods for the charitable appeal.
Staff from various local health and social care services, care homes and individuals generously donated items such as tea, coffee, long-life milk, tins, packets, jars, biscuits and toothpaste.
Heather Simpson, HSCP learning disability operations manager, said: “We had a wonderful response.
“We set up a table in the garden for people to hand in items that Compassionate Inverclyde are running low on for their isolation boxes, going home boxes and people in hospital.
“We’ve built up a great relationship with Compassionate Inverclyde as we undertake some patient transport taking people home with hot meals and going home or isolation boxes.
“When they told us they were running short of stuff we decided to set up this table and sent a message to care providers and HSCP staff asking if they can donate anything when collecting PPE.
“The care providers felt they wanted to give something back because they’ve been well supported by the PPE hub here.
“The response has been overwhelming.”
Compassionate Inverclyde is an award-winning group run almost entirely by volunteers and is backed by Inverclyde Council and the HSCP.
Councillor Robert Moran, Convener of Health & Social Care, said: “The community spirit here in Inverclyde is unrivalled.
“This is a very thoughtful initiative from the HSCP team at the Fitzgerald Centre to help people who have been struggling with illness and often people who live alone in partnership with Compassionate Inverclyde.
“The response from staff, their family and friends, local care providers, suppliers and individuals is amazing and well done to everyone who donated.
“I know from experience how much it means to those receiving the various support boxes.”
The donation station, decorated with balloons, bunting and 'thank you' banners for the NHS, was open last Wednesday (3 June) from 10am-4pm.
Christine Cameron, a volunteer with Compassionate Inverclyde, said: “All our donations come from the people of Inverclyde and go back to the people of Inverclyde.”
Fellow volunteer Daniela Galli added: “It’s amazing how much has been collected.
“We also provide things like pyjamas and slippers to people who need them. A little bit of everything.”
Inverclyde HSCP would like to thank Marchmont Care Home, Kincaid House, Carewatch, Evergreen, Turning Point, Fitzgerald Centre staff and the HSCP’s discharge, community care and children and families teams, as well as service users, friends, family, local residents and a police officer who donated anonymously.