Extra funding for PPE equipment in Walsall

Walsall Council’s cabinet is expected to agree to provide more cash for equipment to ensure care homes and schools are protected until December.

It is anticipated the authority will need to spend more than £200,000 a month from September with a total cost of £1.02 million.

The council had already committed just over £1 million for extra stock to cover the period between April and August but it is now felt more PPE is required as services begin to return.

Originally, Walsall Council leader Mike Bird made an emergency decision to spend just under £2 million in three months up until the end of May on a large amount of PPE – with some of the money being recharged to the clinical commissioning group.

Last month, it was revealed that Walsall had the highest number of confirmed cases in the Black Country and health chiefs are keen to prevent this continuing.

A report to cabinet said a sourcing and distribution site in Goscote continues to provide PPE for residential and nursing homes and will also ensure deliveries to schools, nurseries and childminders.

It said: “Local supply chains across the Borough are becoming strained due to the increased pressure as they also work to source supplies for a growing group of businesses as they are preparing to return or reset their businesses post-Covid.

“Over the next few months, there is a possibility of more people becoming unwell or requiring the use of PPE to enable their carers to carry on supporting them safely and without risk of spreading the virus further.

“As more people try to reintroduce themselves to life prior to Covid, there comes a risk of more infection.

“Walsall Council have received numerous deliveries of PPE since the end of March as part of the National Supplies Disruption, via the Local Resilience Forum.

“However this is still not sufficient to support the whole of Walsall’s needs, nor at times are we able to use the kind donations as they have not got a certification for PPE, meaning it is deemed not fit for purpose by the Health & Safety Executive.”

Walsall Cabinet has been recommended to approve the extra spend at a meeting on June 17.