Black Country company donates vital PPE to care homes and hospices

Halesowen-based Hayley Group Ltd, a national distributor of engineering components, sent out the pieces to those most in need.

It has seen 18 care homes in the Black Country and Birmingham receive 250 masks each as well as 24 hand sanitisers.

Ben Noaks, Hayley Rail Director, said: "Recognised as key workers ourselves, we have been working tirelessly to ensure the supply of PPE to critical industry sectors, so that businesses can remain operational during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We were therefore more than happy to play our part in supporting local care providers who are in need of this vital equipment."

The company, which originated in Blackheath 44 years ago, has continued to supply major industries – including medical, rail, defence, nuclear, and food and beverage – throughout the pandemic.

The donation comes after bi-weekly meetings between the PPE division and management team – held since the start of lockdown.

Phil Hooper, who works on the company's health and safety team, said: "After Hayley Group was given key worker status, we faced our own challenges obtaining PPE for our own staff.

"After sterling work from our PPE and purchasing department, we achieved this. On seeing requests in the media for help with PPE donations for care homes, I asked the question if we may now be in a position to make our own contribution.

"With full support from the Managing Directors, the wheels were set in motion to supply 18 local care homes, which will hopefully help relieve some of the pressure they have been under."

The care homes set to benefit include Ashgrove Care Home and Netherton Green Care Home in Dudley, and Roxburgh House, Trinity House Care Home, and Valley Court Care Home in Cradley Heath.

Others include Belvidere Court in Bilston, Gower Gardens Care Home in Halesowen, Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge and St Mary's Hospice in Birmingham.