Sheffield business owner praised for providing PPE to help NHS staff

As the government has been criticised for not providing enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers during the coronavirus crisis people like Alicia, of Norton Lees, Sheffield, have been inspired to help those on the fronline fighting Covid-19 by producing more PPE.

Alicia owns a company called Lissy’s Little Lovely’s, where she produces bespoke gifts for babies and hair bows for girls which allowed her to come up with an idea to produce helpful equipment.

She began by sewing headbands for NHS staff, in the hope of helping them protect their ears from bruising and blistering by wearing face masks for incredibly long hours of the day.

The headbands produced have large buttons placed on the each side of the headband which NHS staff can attach the elastic of the face mask to, rather than their ears.

Once NHS members of staff came across the equipment she’d been producing, the demand for more increased drastically.

Alicia said: “It’s really picked up, the demand for headbands is huge. As I’ve got more busy, I’ve received requests for face masks and wash bags for scrubs and devoted the last three weeks to keeping up with the high demand.

“So far I’ve done around 148 of the headbands, I’ve done 20 non-medical face masks with filter pockets incorporated and then I’ve produced about 30 wash bags with loads more to do.

“All I have been asking for is a donation if people can but I have done this all in my own time and at my own cost. I’m self employed. I started this project over three weeks ago to help and it’s been growing and growing ever since.”

The hard work Alicia has been putting in has encouraged people like her good friend, Emily Lomas, to urge people to donate anything they can just help with the working costs.

Emily said: “This incredible lady Alicia Milne, who I proudly call my friend, is using her own time, money and design to make some amazing things which she is donating free of charge to the NHS front line staff.

“She has not once asked for anything from anyone towards these other than postage. Which can hopefully be covered by any donations. A real life angel.

“If you could all join her Facebook group and donate anything you can towards her generous project it would be incredibly appreciated. Just drop her a message and she will gladly send you her PayPal.”

Alicia continued: “When my friend Emily asked people to try and help on my behalf, I started receiving financial donations to people even donating postage stamps, which has been an incredible help when it comes to buying materials and equipment delivery.

“I’m so pleased about trying to do my bit, It’s the least I could do as I’m not the one out there continuing the phenomenal work our NHS staff are doing.”