- By Buckinghamshire Business First
- 20 April, 2020
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How can your business help meet local and national needs? We’re collating requests for help and offers of support on our website. If you can help, find out how to get involved.
Thank you to everyone who has submitted an offer of support!
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has submitted an offer of support since the COVID-19 crisis took hold.
These offers have shown the wonderful spirit of the Buckinghamshire business community, and the determination from businesses that everyone that needs support gets it.
You can read some wonderful stories of local support here >
Have you had a positive response to your offer?
We would like to know if you have received a positive response as a result of your offer.
Did a business or individual get in touch to take you up on your offer? What was the outcome?
Let us know what support you have been able to provide, and we will share the stories online and on our social media.
Email us at [email protected] with the details.
Looking for more ways to offer or receive support?
We have been working with local authorities, businesses and organisations to understand the needs that exist in relation to COVID-19 and to match those needs with businesses and individuals who can provide support.
If you’re looking for support, you have two options:
If you can offer support, you have two options:
More requests for support are coming in every day
More requests for support are coming in every day, including this request from our partners at Buckinghamshire Council...
Can you provide 4G tablet devices for local care homes?
Buckinghamshire Council needs to source endpoint 4G devices with a front-facing camera and suitable operating system to allow for use in care homes.
Buckinghamshire Council needs to source 3,000 endpoint tablet devices. Please fill in details of what you can offer on this online form and we will ensure your information is passed on to Buckinghamshire Council.
GPs want to support care home residents but there is a lack of endpoint devices within care homes that could allow a GP to carry out remote consultations using video. There is also no mechanism in place for care home staff to be able to remotely monitor residents’ vital signs and upload these to the GP for review.
Due to infection control procedures, friends and relatives are unable to see residents in care homes, which, as you imagine, can be upsetting for everyone. It would make a difference if they could facilitate video calling.
The council has a number of system enablers which they are able to deploy into care homes:
- NHSMail
- Microsoft Teams
- Online/Virtual Consultation
- End of life care planning
- WhatsApp or something similar to enable face to face visiting and final goodbyes
Many care homes do not have Wi-Fi and broadband speed varies; therefore endpoint devices will need to be 4G enabled. Nationally, NHSX have secured telecoms providers to support with free data to support this initiative. Buckinghamshire Council needs to source endpoint 4G devices with a front facing camera and suitable operating system to allow for the use in care homes.
Buckinghamshire Council has 3,500 care homes across the South East and needs to source 3,000 endpoint tablet devices. There is no funding for this very important area.
Can you help ensure care home residents are not going through this difficult time alone?
Please fill in details of what you can offer on this online form and we will ensure your information is passed on to Buckinghamshire Council.
Thank you to those who have offered PPE
The level of response from local businesses to requests for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been tremendous. We share all offers relating to PPE, or a service that is relevant to the NHS, the care sector or other critical services, with our partners at Buckinghamshire Council, who are liaising with the local network of public sector and critical services.
Due to the volume of offers submitted, you may not hear back from the council straight away, but rest assured that your details and offer are recorded on their database and they will match them with urgent needs when required. The council has also been able to pass on details to charitable groups looking for support to satisfy services in this time of need.
The situation is set to continue for some time yet and needs are emerging daily.
Can you help with these vital initiatives?
Companies that may find they are especially able to help could include the below:
- caterers
- cleaners
Domestic care and nursing staff, cleaning and catering provision required
The Fremantle Trust have an urgent need for support with domestic care and nursing staff, cleaning and catering provision.
If you are able to help, please submit details here.
Information on the availability of testing kits
Embrace HR work with exceptionally vulnerable people being cared for in their own homes and would like to start introducing its care staff back into work. However, the team are in the same situation as many others, including care homes, who will need to have staff tested before they can be placed back into working with the clients, many of whom are children.
They would like to know if anyone has information on the availability of testing kits?
Email Cecily Lalloo at [email protected] with information.
Can you support food banks with Bags for Life, hand sanitiser or plastic gloves?
If you can donate any Bags for Life, hand sanitiser or plastic gloves, please follow the relevant links below for information on how to support:
Stay informed of the latest business support re: COVID-19
Remember to visit our COVID-19 business support hub for the latest support and information coming out the government, business support organisations and other avenues of support. Bookmark www.bbf.uk.com/covid-19 so you can easily find it in future.
