Rochdale hospital rallies to deliver urgent supplies to Ukraine hospitals

The Highfield Hospital in Rochdale has formed part of a wider effort to deliver urgent supplies to war-hit hospitals in Ukraine.

In response to direct requests from Ukrainian doctors, the Highfield Hospital has worked with the Ukraine Medical Association and the British Red Cross to identify needs in war-hit hospitals.

The Circle Health Group, which runs the hospital, has sent 10-truck loads of supplies including 200 pallets of vital kit and medical supplies from across its national network of 53 hospitals.  

Ventilators, crutches, walking frames, respiratory masks, scrubs, bandages, wound kits, operating tables and other medical supplies have been stock-piled from Circle hospitals across the country and delivered directly to the doors of five hospitals covering North, South, East and West Ukraine.

Upon receipt of the urgent supplies, the hospitals distribute a portion to local community hospitals in a hub and spoke model.  

A team of volunteer hauliers from the UK, Poland and Ukraine have made the journey on a weekly basis since 15 March to deliver urgent supplies, navigating their way through war-torn regions and areas of conflict to reach the hospitals in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykoliav, Odessa and Lviv. Circle Health Group has committed to continue the weekly delivery programme for as long as the supplies are required.  

 

 

The latest delivery, which departed the UK on Wednesday 13 April and arrived at a Kharkiv hospital on Easter Sunday, contained £185,500 of medical equipment loaded on 35 pallets, including five ventilators, an operating table, patient monitors, suction tubing and chest drainage sets and sterile gowns.  

At Highfield, hospital staff organised a bake sale and bake-off competition which in total raised £307 towards Circle Health Group’s target of raising £1 million for those affected by the war in Ukraine. 

Paolo Pieri, CEO of Circle Health Group, said: “We’re so grateful to the hundreds of people across the country who have contributed to this effort, from staff to partners and suppliers, and the brave drivers who have put themselves at considerable personal risk.

“It’s hard to know how to help in the face of such enormous suffering, but as a hospital operator and one of the UK’s largest employers we knew we could provide unique support for hospitals caring for the sick and injured.

“Working directly with Ukrainian medical colleagues, we are able to understand their exact needs and get targeted aid to them directly in some of the most difficult parts of the country.”