"Joy has been an absolute inspiration and is a great example of the spirit of ordinary people in Thurrock"

A THURROCK mum has told she has helped keep her daughter safe as she works on the NHS front line.

The situation regarding provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been somewhat confused locally, with local NHS managers saying there are no issues – but staff at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital and other local medical centres telling a different story.

Mum Joy Hughes, whose daughter is a ward sister at Thurrock Community Hospital, decided she didn't want to take any chances and decided to take action regardless.

She says: "My daughter's ward started looking after COVID-19 patients at the beginning of April and I was terrified for her safety. They only had very basic PPE, standard face masks, aprons and gloves."

Joy initially managed to source goggles from a local school ("not the face visors they needed, but a start"), and also ear protectors to stop the strings on the face masks rubbing, and some leads for people producing face visors and other PPE.

She wanted to get things moving faster so she teamed up with local councillor Sara Muldowney.

The two pooled ideas and contacts and together they sourced over 300 fluid resistant coveralls, 150 safety googles, hundreds of high grade face masks and a steady supply of face visors in just a few days. Supplies have now gone to Thurrock Hospital, Orsett Hospital, high dependency wards at Basildon, to carers working in the community and to local first responders.

"All the hard work was worth it," says Joy, "when I received a text from my hardworking daughter saying that she had 'the best mum in the world'."

Cllr Muldowney said: "Joy has been an absolute inspiration and is a great example of the spirit of ordinary people in Thurrock, with their determination to make a practical difference and support our wonderful NHS and care staff.

"I am proud to say that there are many other local groups helping out around the borough. It just goes to show how much untapped potential there is in our local communities and what local people can achieve when they come together to work towards a common goal.

"Well done to all the local heroes out there!"

Joy and Sara would like to give special thanks to the following local businesses and individuals:

Dave Cormack, Managing Director of Delphini Ltd in Tilbury Docks

Chadwell St Mary residents, Diana Zachau and Pat Wakefield for their beautifully made masks and scrub bags.

And finally to the 'amazing' Jules Blewett-Grant and the 'wonderful' Vittoria Churchman of Treetops School for their ongoing supplies of face visors.