A SMALL business owner who shut down due to the coronavirus has donated unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help frontline NHS staff.

Profix, a metal fabricator based in Reginald Road Industrial Estate, shut up shop last week.

But owner Marcos Allanson has now put some of the PPE going unused to a good cause, after answering an appeal on Facebook.

READ > Rainhill teen wants to 'paint a rainbow' with moving cover of Judy Garland classic

“Unfortunately, I had to take the decision last Thursday to close my company due to coronavirus,” Marcos said.

“Whilst I had work to do, I felt it became a decision that I had to make for the good of my staff. Everything had to take a back seat to the health and wellbeing of my lads.

“We have a stock of all PPE we require on site at any one time, despite being a small company.

“I felt like any PPE which was appropriate for use by the NHS or the local community was far better being utilised by these guys on the frontline, than being sat in our storeroom.

“I feel there will be a lot of companies who have levels of stock in these items that may not have even thought of being able to donate these.

“I certainly didn’t think my fabrication company would have been able to play any small part in helping the NHS.

“But it seems we have been able to, which is fantastic. Seve has done a marvellous job getting these to the people who need them.”

The appeal for PPE was made by Newton Labour councillor Seve-Gomez-Aspron.

Another company that answered this call was the housebuilder Persimmon Homes, which has properties in the Vulcan Village and Earlestown.

“Cllr Gomez-Aspron emailed to ask if we had any spare supplies of facemasks,” said Karl Wiseman, director in charge of Persimmon Homes North West.

“I explained that everything we had was delivered to regional hospitals the day before, but that we did have a small supply of antibacterial wipes, antibacterial hand wash, hand sanitiser and antibacterial cleaner.

“We were pleased to be able to help out and delivered what we had via one of our contracts managers.

“It’s only a small gesture but we were happy to do anything we could, and hopefully it will go some way to helping out in the short-term.”

St Helens Star: A selection of PPE was donated by Profix and Persimmon Homes A selection of PPE was donated by Profix and Persimmon Homes

The majority of the donations were delivered to staff in Newton Community Hospital.

Equipment was also provided to children undergoing chemotherapy, due to their lowered immune systems, hospital doctors and some pharmacy services.

“The community in Newton-le-Willows is fantastic and really pulling together,” said Cllr Gomez-Aspron.

“We put a call out to local businesses and housing developments to see if they could donate any stock to our local NHS frontline services.

READ > Families in St Helens eligible for free school meals can now claim £15 voucher

“Persimmon Homes and Profix have been fantastic and donated FFP3 masks, disposable aprons, antibacterial gel, disinfectant gels and wipes.

“We are hugely grateful for them and they’ve now been distributed to local chemists, local children undergoing chemotherapy, local frontline doctors and our community nursing teams at Newton Hospital.

“Anyone wishing to take part in the effort can register on www.nlwtogether.co.uk or ring 01744 676767 and we can coordinate help and volunteers locally and get resources to those in need.”