Tarian Cymru: New campaign group formed to raise money for PPE for Welsh health workers

A campaign group set up to fundraise for protective equipment (PPE) for health workers in Wales has already raised £1,500.

Tarian Cymru said that they were concerned about reports that health workers in Wales are still not receiving the PPE, that they need to care for patients.

It is possible to donate to the campaign here.

Web designer Carl Morris from Aberystwyth is one of the founders and said that the current situation is putting workers, their families, and communities at risk.

“We are a group of people from a variety of backgrounds, with close personal links to Wales’ health workers,” the group said.

“We need to raise money urgently to secure a supply of protective equipment from global suppliers to Wales. This will be achieved through partnerships with specialists around the nations of Britain, who bring experience in orders for PPE of a professional standard.

“As a community-powered campaign, this partnership represents the fastest solution, among a number we have assessed, to the urgent problem of NHS Wales workers needing PPE.

“This highly unusual situation requires rapid solutions which work. Collecting money specifically for PPE in NHS Wales hospitals and other sites will side-step any bureaucracy and ensure that the equipment reaches the people who are working 24/7 to care for your friends, relatives, and community.”

‘Challenges’

The crowdfunding effort follows reports that health workers in parts of Wales were having to buy their own PPE.

Last week the First Minister Mark Drakeford called on Welsh businesses to create a new Welsh supply of PPE to support NHS and social care staff.

“This is a time like no other – as a nation we must stand up and respond to the huge challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

“I want to thank the many businesses and manufacturers in Wales who have already made offers of help to produce PPE and other equipment. We are responding as quickly as we can to the offers we already have, but we want and need more.

“I am calling on companies to help our NHS and produce much-needed PPE products which will be vital for our frontline staff.

“Welsh business has an important role to play in delivering the products needed.”

On Monday Plaid Cymru called on the Welsh Government to appoint a procurement tsar to source PPE for frontline staff and medical devices for patients.

Party leader Adam Price made the case for the appointment of a tsar whose “sole responsibility” would be the procurement and supply of Covid-19 tests, PPE, and oxygen and medical devices for Wales.

He said hospital staff were being forced to wear paper underwear over their hair due to the lack of any other protection.