DONATIONS of medical supplies are needed ahead of a Leamington group’s 13th journey to Ukraine.
Medics to Medics has delivered supplies of life-saving medical equipment to those in the most desperate need in the war-torn country and is still looking for support to help those in the most vulnerable areas.
The group, based at a unit at the Squab Group in Harbury Lane, was launched by paramedic Kate Wilson just one day after the war began, and while the mother-of-three originally expected the conflict to be over in a matter of weeks, Medics to Medics is now preparing to make its 13th journey to the country in what has now become a life-long project.
Kate, supported by a small team of volunteers, began by donating supplies to aid contacts she already had in Ukraine.
Medics to Medics has since continued to raise funds to purchase specific supplies for military medics, field hospitals, general hospitals, maternity units and members of the public.
Kate said: “At the start of the conflict I gathered a small team of paramedic colleagues together and within just two-and-a-half weeks after it began, we handed over the first supplies.
“As soon as we returned I received a call asking when we could go back, and within three weeks we were out again delivering our second van-load of supplies.
“We didn’t have anywhere to store the supplies, so I contacted Squab who I had used previously for storage when moving house to ask if they could provide us with something short-term.
“They have been amazing and incredibly they gave us a unit for free, but after two months it was clear that we needed to rent a space from them on a more permanent basis because the conflict was far from over.
“In May 2022 I had a frank conversation with my husband about giving up my job in the NHS and becoming a private paramedic so that I wasn’t tied to shift patterns and could focus more of my time on Medics to Medics, it was very much a heart over head decision and one that I will never regret.
“As time has evolved, we now respond to specific requests from hospitals, front line medics and individuals in need.
“We have received an incredible amount of support, but sadly even more needs to be done to support those in need as this horrific conflict which is right on our doorstep continues.”
To donate visit the Medics to Medics Facebook page, the JustGiving page bit.ly/3JoJk0X or contact Nicola Maher of Steroplast Healthcare – the Medics to Medics supplier – on 0161 902 3030.
