Scrubs Hub volunteers sew 10,921 items for hospitals in just eight weeks

Across eight weeks from 8 April to 16 June 2020, over 200 volunteers joined forces under Scrubs Hub Bury, Oldham and Rochdale to produce 10,921 much-needed items for the NHS.

A virtual network to assist with the national shortage of scrubs, Scrubs Hub has supplied a variety of sewn items - from gowns to surgical hats - to eight hospitals in Greater Manchester with the aim to alleviate demand due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

 

 

Local hospitals that benefitted from the project include Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General and Oldham Royal Hospital.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/133861/volunteers-are-sewing-scrubs-for-local-nhs-heroes

The group also raised funds to produce and deliver urgently needed PPE equipment to the coronavirus frontline in Greater Manchester and with support from 15 companies, Scrubs Hub raised a total of £12,346.

Over two months, the group voluntarily provided the NHS with:

2,360 sets of scrubs (trousers and tops)
5,403 scrub bags
2,468 mask extenders
399 headbands
191 surgical hats
100 gowns

Co-ordinator Zoe Sutcliffe, who usually creates dance costumes, said: “We fulfilled all requests coming through to us from healthcare professionals and are now starting to wind down production.

“The group had over 200 volunteers by the end and over 30 of these were from Rochdale’s Brass Knuckle Riders group who picked up and delivered products, especially PPE, to the NHS. Also making up that number were the lovely ladies that sewed the items and people from businesses such as Mike Goldrick Blinds whose workers cut the fabric for us.

 

 

“The amount of scrubs we produced over eight weeks was a massive amount from a massive team effort. Hopefully, we can thank the volunteers with a big celebration when we can all get together. Some people were voluntarily working 12-hour days; they are all amazing.”

With the demand for scrubs gradually declining, Scrubs Hub Bury, Oldham and Rochdale volunteers are now working on a community quilt project titled 'Celebration Quilt', with each volunteer sewing a square of their own design to add to the piece.

 

 

Zoe added: "We are hoping to display the quilt in a museum when it is finished and take it round to different art and craft fairs. We have a community sewing Facebook page where all the volunteers are sharing their projects, so it is a great way to stay in touch."

Scrubs Hub Bury, Oldham and Rochdale produced and delivered the most amount of items to the NHS over lockdown, in comparison to other Scrubs Hubs groups.