As key workers still face having to go into work without adequate Personal Protective equipment, Dr Lamis Latif, a GP and A&E urgent care doctor has started the #AnythingIsBetterThanNothing campaign and the Coronavirus Frontline Group which calls for PPE donations. This as a temporary measure, as the government is yet to adequately equip key workers with equipment as well as testing. Dr Latif was sick of waiting for PPE and was concerned seeing her colleagues with no protection.

I ran to help a deteriorating patient who vomited over me while we stabilised them. No PPE. Patient then confirmed #Covid positive
This is the daily reality of risk to all frontline doctors
We keep our promise to protect patients
But we are unable to protect ourselves#NHS #PPE

— Roopa Farooki (@RoopaFarooki) April 7, 2020

The group are looking for anything that can be used as PPE to protect key workers e.g. gloves, disposable aprons, masks, face shields and visors.  They are not asking for monetary donations, only physical equipment.

Dr Latif also is asking for volunteers to help distribute or pick up items for us. If you would like to volunteer please email coronavirusfrontline@gmail.com

The group has so far contacted

• @bandq_uk
• @screwfix_uk
• @halfords_uk
• @homebase_uk
• @toolstation_uk
• @wickes
• @partridgesfoods
• Hunts Of Marlow
• @harrods

They also estimate that many businesses including restaurants, hotels, gyms, salons etc. may have PPE in storage.

Based on 500 reports so far from 193 hospital trusts and GP practices:

72% of doctors cannot get hold of an FFP3 mask when they need one.

77% report shortages of long-sleeved gowns.

43% cannot always use a visor or goggles when they need them.https://t.co/c0MCd8nI22

— The Doctors’ Association UK (@TheDA_UK) April 6, 2020

“The aim is for businesses that sell PPE to pledge some of their stock free for key workers, which can be picked up at their stores. We can also collect any items from stores, shops, gyms etc that are closed & have PPE in storage to make PPE packs which we can then distribute to key workers”

– Dr Lamis Latif, GP, Urgent Care & A&E

URGENT CALL FOR PPE

Our #AnythingIsBetterThanNothing campaign is urgently calling for PPE donations
* We are looking for anything that can be used as PPE to protect key workers e.g. gloves, disposable aprons, masks, face shields, visors pic.twitter.com/UjvN8xW7B3

— Dr Lamis Latif (@DrLamisLatif) April 3, 2020

You wouldn’t send an astronaut into space without a suit, or a soldier to war without a gun.

So let’s stop sending nurses to work without sufficient PPE. We must do everything it takes.

No more NHS deaths.

— Guy Fawkes (@blunted_james) April 3, 2020

The campaign has been individuals and groups like Helpful Engineering, create PPE equipment to distribute and individuals taking to sewing, laser cutting and 3D printing to create face masks. The campaign #AnythingIsBetterThanNothing has also seen support form individuals like Lowkey.

Today , our DT dept at Loreto Grammar School made a total of 50 PPE face masks by lasercutting and assembling the stock High Impact Polystyrene we had in school. We have also donated all the PPE, masks and gloves etc we have in stock too. #ProtectOurNHS #StayHome #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/KGPrDa7Tt6

— stem_maths (@stem_maths) April 8, 2020

A completed PPE coverall brilliantly sewn by volunteer Shahida!

Just under 1000 coveralls at the start of the week and we're hoping to send out loads more over the coming days/weeks!#MakeNHSPPE #PPEShortage #ProtectTheNHS #PPEfortheNHS pic.twitter.com/76gxhbZ56C

— NHS PPE Campaign by Loft 25 (@NhsPpe) April 7, 2020

So proud of Paula, a Design Technology teacher at Denton Community College. Like other DT teachers across the country, she’s been going into school during lockdown, making PPE for use the NHS.

An amazing effort. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#ThankYouPaula #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/HOxOooz2G3

— Andrew Gwynne MP (@GwynneMP) April 8, 2020

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URGENT CALL FOR PPE Our #AnythingIsBetterThanNothing campaign @coronavirusfrontline is urgently calling for PPE donations * We are looking for anything that can be used as PPE to protect key workers e.g. gloves, disposable aprons, masks, face shields, visors * We are not asking for any monetary donations, just physical equipment. For example, the visors above were custom made by @helpfulengineering who delivered several pieces to us. * Any little helps! So far we have contacted @bandq_uk / @screwfix_uk / @halfords_uk / @homebase_uk / @toolstation_uk / @wickes / @partridgesfoods / Hunts Of Marlow / @harrods but we also estimate that many businesses including restaurants, hotels, gyms, salons etc. may have PPE in storage * The aim is for businesses that sell PPE to pledge some of their stock free for key workers, which can be picked up at their stores * We can also collect any items from stores/ shops/ gyms etc that are closed & have PPE in storage to make PPE packs which we can then distribute to key workers (we will announce a date/time/location for collection) * Remember this is a temporary solution whilst we wait for adequate stock of PPE to be delivered! * What we need you to do: 1. Share this post far and wide 2. Tag any companies / individuals / business who can help or DM me their details if you have a direct contact 3. We would love volunteers to help distribute or pick up items for us! Comment or DM if interested You can also e-mail at : coronavirusfrontline@gmail.com Thank you so much! Let’s get our key workers protected 🙏🏻 #AnythingIsBetterThanNothing

A post shared by Dr Lamis Latif (@drlamislatif) on Apr 3, 2020 at 5:37am PDT

Seven frontline NHS staff have now lost their lives to Covid-19.

My thoughts are with their families and loved ones.

But the truth is, NHS staff still aren't getting proper PPE and testing.

They're being put at avoidable risk. That's a scandal.

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) April 4, 2020

A 15 year-old volunteering to make PPE for NHS staff is not a feel-good story. It’s a damning indictment of the government’s failure to protect workers. Don’t let the media spin it any other way.

— Hasan Patel 🌹 (@CorbynistaTeen) April 8, 2020

Dr Lamis has also been on LBC and Channel 5 News to talk about the current pandemic.

View this post on Instagram

I was kindly contacted by @lbc following the release of our #stayhome video to talk about current issues on the frontline – staff testing, life on the frontline, and a general overview of what the current situation regarding the coronavirus is. I love listening to LBC especially Clive Bull, and have never done much radio before so was super nervous when they called! But honestly the team are so lovely, I enjoyed the discussion and hope you do too.

A post shared by Dr Lamis Latif (@drlamislatif) on Apr 2, 2020 at 5:52am PDT