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Millbrook Step up to Covid-19 Challenges

Last Updated on 28/08/2020 by Millie York

With unprecedented levels of demand on acute care services, timely hospital discharge was essential in supporting their health and social care colleagues, freeing up beds for those critically ill. In support of this, they extended their operating hours to 7 days per week, making over 30,000 equipment deliveries to those leaving hospital and returning home.

In addition to the supply of community equipment, they also became the co-ordination hub for PPE across Devon and Warwickshire, ensuring vital PPE reached NHS frontline workers in their fight against the virus. Emergency PPE supplies were stored in their warehouses, with prompt deliveries coordinated to all their healthcare colleagues.

Throughout the pandemic, the availability of essential PPE has been critically important. The procurement team has worked tirelessly to ensure their teams had appropriate PPE to keep themselves and their service users safe. 

Millbrook became aware that many vital charitable organisation were struggling to obtain appropriate PPE and therefore they committed themselves to support local charities across the country. Donating 48,000 face masks, made a real difference in the communities they served.

Lee Davies, Business Development Director at Millbrook Healthcare, said:

“During the Coronavirus pandemic our priority has been to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and our service users, by having the PPE stocks required.

“We’re pleased that we’re able to donate some of this equipment to charities that need support in the communities that we are proud to be a part of.”

To support the local community, and in recognition of those who were particularly at risk, during the Easter period Millbrook donated 1,000 Easter eggs to Southampton City Council. The eggs were included in COVID-19 food parcels and distributed to the city’s most vulnerable families.

They were immensely proud to have played their part in supporting the national effort against coronavirus; supporting new NHS hospital discharge procedures, providing essential equipment and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their service users in their home and in their community.

As keyworkers they have continued to operate throughout the pandemic, supporting NHS and Social Care services by extending their hours and operating seven days a week.

Service continuity was maintained in line with government guidelines and new working practices.  Millbrook introduced a number of controls including mandatory PPE, contactless deliveries and collections and social distancing. Where possible, remote operations were conducted including virtual assessments, preventing unnecessary delays to care provision.

During the pandemic:

  • They carried out c.30,000 urgent equipment deliveries to service users leaving hospital, ensuring their safety and independence at home.
  • Donated 48,000 facemasks to charitable organisations across the country, ensuring provision of essential PPE for their workforce.
  • Their subsidiary company, Ultimate Healthcare supplied 250 beds to Nightingale hospitals, supporting the national response.

Commenting on the Nightingale project Tom Reaney, Commercial Director of Ultimate Healthcare said:

“Ultimate Healthcare have worked tirelessly in these past few months ensuring we’re able to supply much needed equipment to both the NHS and local authorities.  Many challenges have been overcome in meeting the exceptional demand from coronavirus, while at the same time maintaining a first class service to our existing customers. It’s taken a huge team effort and I’m proud of the commitment and contribution they’ve made in keeping people safe during these very difficult times.”

Consolor, a division of the Millbrook Healthcare Group, responded to a plea from the Regional Posture and Mobility Service in Birmingham following difficulties in obtaining PPE.

Alongside our usual operations, the team transformed to produce component parts needed for medical visors. They supplied Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust with foam forehead supports and elastic straps to hold the visors in place, helping ensure their protection against the virus.

To overcome delivery issues, Consolor drove the parts from Southampton to Birmingham ensuring supplies were received directly, as quickly as possible.

Millbrook are an active member of the communities they serve, and provided project management for a new disabled and dementia wellbeing facility, located at Werrington Library. Working with FDL as the contracting partner, our HIA team ensured these spaces were disability, dementia friendly and accessible to all.

The facilities comprises two therapy lodges, and a third providing a disabled and dementia friendly toilet, based around an accessible patio and garden area.

Millbrook Healthcare Operations Manager Diane Bradshaw presented the keys to Wellbeing Coordinator Wendy Sandbrook, using the same silver spade used to break the ground, at the beginning of the project.

Commenting on the project, Diane said:

“Millbrook Healthcare are delighted to have worked alongside Werrington Community Volunteer Group, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and FDL Contractors on this project. The dedication and commitment from each and every member of the team has made a real difference to the community, without which this UK-first health and wellbeing project would not have been possible. Focusing on Mental Wellbeing and Dementia, and despite the impact of COVID-19, has being a long awaited dream that has now become reality.”

The project was funded by the Disability Facility Grant, the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Millbrook are proud to deliver a service on behalf of the NHS and social care. And as key workers, they see all of our colleagues as heroes – Millbrook Heroes.

They provided all of our colleagues with Millbrook Heroes rainbow pictures to colour in with their families, to help occupy their children during lockdown.

Tyler Ashworth-Hansford (Age 9)


Published: 3rd July 2020

Source: Millbrook Healthcare