CES providers Cefndy-Medequip step up to store and supply millions of items of PPE

Joint services providers Cefndy-Medequip have used its logistical expertise to help support the care sector in South Wales get hold of vitally-needed personal protective equipment (PPE).

Gwent-Wide Integrated Community Equipment Service (GWICES) commissioning team reached out to the providers of the Gwent community equipment services – a joint service operated by Medequip in partnership with Cefndy Healthcare – to see if they could help support storage and distribution of PPE at the height of the pandemic.

After an assessment visit from the British Army, who were assisting with setting up a reliable distribution service, the Cefndy-Medequip depot in Newport was contracted by GWICES to receive the PPE deliveries.

Sourced by the Welsh Government Supply Network, these were to be stored and distributed to five local hubs in Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen. From there it is supplied directly to social care service providers.

Since starting over the Easter weekend, the Cefndy-Medequip partnership has now processed in excess of 200 pallets of PPE – quite literally millions of individual items.

These have been sourced from overseas as well as in the UK, with one of the latest high-profile deliveries being face visors supplied by the Royal Mint.

According to the community equipment providers, onward distribution of the PPE takes place daily to ensure the five supply hubs are stocked appropriately for demand.

Darren Morrish, Medequip Contract Manager at Newport, commented: “We are delighted and very proud to be part of the vital PPE supply chain in Gwent. We have added this service to our normal operations seamlessly, through the hard work, willing efforts and terrific engagement of the whole Cefndy-Medequip team.”

Judith Addis, Cefndy Operations Manager at Newport echoed his sentiments.

“Our storemen, supervisors, technicians and engineers have been really keen to help,” she said.

“We are receiving large deliveries that need to be offloaded, counted, split and delivered the same day. We are proud of the team for their willingness and enthusiasm to help front line workers.”