Recently, members of the Libby team have been putting their sewing skills to good use by volunteering to make personal protective equipment (PPE) for the NHS.
In particular, fluid repellent gowns for our local Royal Brompton Hospital, upcycled from old theatre drapes. The volunteering scheme is led by The Fashion School's Caroline Gration and staff at the Royal Brompton hospital and is situated at Kensington and Chelsea College (KCC).
Photo credit: @thefashionschooluk / Instagram
Why are PPE gowns so important?
The coronavirus pandemic has caused the NHS to have critical PPE shortages, notably of gowns. More than 50 frontline healthcare workers have died amid fears a lack of PPE is leaving them exposed.
Public Health England guidelines stipulate that full-length waterproof surgical gowns (PPE), designed to stop coronavirus droplets getting into someone’s mouth or nose, should be worn for all high-risk hospital procedures, and at all times in particular settings like Intensive Care Units and respiratory wards.
PPE is designed to be disposable, and must be changed between patients and disposed of correctly in clinical waste bins before leaving a clinical area. However, the shortage of gowns has meant that some NHS workers are being forced to instead wash and re-use them, putting themselves at risk of contracting and spreading the virus. The British Medical Association found that other medics are turning to other unsuitable alternatives, such as bin liners.
How can you get involved?
PPE gowns are very basic to make, so you do not have to be highly skilled to volunteer. In addition to sewing volunteers, they also need people to cut, fold and box the gowns.
Unfortunately, it isn't possible to make PPE gowns at home as they need to be made in an as sterile environment as possible. KCC is working to ensure that the PPE their volunteers are making meet appropriate health and safety standards.
For more information and to sign up to the volunteering scheme, please contact us (studio@libbylondon.com) and we will pass on your details.
If you do not live locally to KCC in (London SW10) but want to get involved, there are lots of other volunteering schemes nationally. Alternatively, it is possible to make hospital scrubs at home as these are designed to be reused and can be safely machine washed at 60 degrees. Download the free online pattern here and check which hospitals are accepting scrub donations at https://trello.com/b/O8zlgTnE/hospitals.
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