Sanitiser donations help care homes fight against Covid-19

Receiving the UCLan-made  sanitiser at Preston GrangeReceiving the UCLan-made  sanitiser at Preston Grange
Receiving the UCLan-made sanitiser at Preston Grange
Care home staff have rallied to say a big thanks to the team who have been helping keep them coronavirus free - and allowing visitors to see their loved relatives.

A team of four at The University of Central Lancashire's city centre campus have made and distributed 120 litres of the much needed hand sanitiser to help fight the spread of the virus in the homes in Preston, Freckleton and Hesketh Bank.

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The specialist technicians used the existing chemical compounds’ stock to make the sanitiser in a teaching laboratory in the JB Firth Building. They followed a World Health Organisation recipe for two formulations.

Tony Dickson, a technical manager from the university's learning and information services department, was one of the team who made the sanitiser and distributed it.

Technician Terri Blohm with the labelled bottles of hand sanitiserTechnician Terri Blohm with the labelled bottles of hand sanitiser
Technician Terri Blohm with the labelled bottles of hand sanitiser

He said: “It’s great the university has allowed us to use resources for this purpose, we’re just happy to be able to help out in some small way that hopefully helps protect those that need it. It’s been a real team effort, and everyone is happy to have played their part.”

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At Preston Glades Care Home, in Ribbleton, which received 35 vital litres of the sanitiser, manager Justine Hornby said: "Hand sanitiser has been so difficult to get hold of, in our last delivery from our suppliers we only received 12 of the smallest bottles so to get 35 litres from UCLan is brilliant.

"It means we’ve got enough hand sanitiser for our visiting professionals to come in and ensures the safety of our residents and staff."

Leanne Pittam, manager of Southview Lodge Residential Care in Hesketh Bank, said the extra 20 litres of hand sanitiser had allowed family members to start visiting their loved ones.

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She added: "It’s been absolutely vital in enabling us to open a visiting pod for relatives to visit the residents while also ensuring we have enough for staff to use after every single task.

"Our usual suppliers either haven’t got any stock or are only allowing us to buy small quantities so to have 20 litres delivered for free is amazing."

Freckleton Lodge in Preston Old Road, also received 20 litres of the sanitiser to help replenish stocks.

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