A hospital in Bath has helped ensure more than 110 tonnes of urgent medical supplies have reached Ukraine, supporting war-hit hospitals in the country.
One of the lorries being loaded ready to travel to Ukraine | Inset: Dr Sergey Tadtayev | Photos © Circle Health
Sergey Tadtayev, a Ukrainian doctor practising in the UK, teamed with his hospital operator, Circle Health Group and Bath Clinic to deliver the much-needed supplies.
In response to direct requests from Ukrainian doctors, Bath Clinic has worked with the Ukrainian doctors’ union (Ukraine Medical Association) and the British Red Cross to identify specific needs in war-hit hospitals, whilst Sergey worked with his Circle colleagues to gather 10 truckloads including 200 pallets of vital kit and medical supplies from across the company’s network of 53 hospitals.
Ventilators, crutches, walking frames, respiratory masks, scrubs, bandages, wound kits, operating tables and other medical supplies have been stockpiled from Circle hospitals across the country and delivered directly to the doors of five hospitals covering North, South, East and West Ukraine.
Upon receipt of the urgent supplies, the hospitals distribute a portion to local community hospitals in a hub and spoke model.
A team of volunteer hauliers from the UK, Poland and Ukraine have made the journey on a weekly basis since 15th March to deliver supplies, navigating their way through war-torn regions and areas of conflict to reach the hospitals in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Lviv.
Circle Health Group has committed to continue the weekly delivery programme for as long as the supplies are required.
A recent delivery, which departed the UK on Wednesday 13th April and arrived at a Kharkiv hospital on Easter Sunday, contained £185,500 of medical equipment loaded on 35 pallets, including 5 ventilators, an operating table, patient monitors, suction tubing and chest drainage sets and sterile gowns.
At Bath Clinic, Patient Liaison Officer Lucie Stitch ran from Shepton Mallet to Bath Clinic in Combe Down.
Lucie’s 20-mile run was completed in under six hours and raised £696 towards the Circle Health Group’s combined target of £1 million.
Sergey’s appeal and Bath Clinic’s efforts received an extraordinary response from staff, with around £1.4 million worth of medical supplies and funds donated by Circle Health Group hospitals, staff and suppliers to date.
Dr Sergey Tadtayev said: “My heart breaks for my fellow doctors back home who are fighting heroically to care for the sick and wounded – even as the bombs continue to fall.
“Hospitals are struggling to get basic supplies because transport and manufacturing have been so badly disrupted, so I knew I had to do something to help.
“Moving 100+ tonnes of medical supplies between hospitals separated by thousands of miles and several borders has been an incredible team effort, and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of my colleagues at Circle Health Group.
“They are moving heaven and earth to get help to those who really need it on the frontline, and I am humbled by the solidarity and support for my homeland.”
Paolo Pieri, CEO of Circle Health Group, added: “We’re so grateful to the hundreds of people across the country who have contributed to this effort, from staff to partners and suppliers, and the brave drivers who have put themselves at considerable personal risk.
“It’s hard to know how to help in the face of such enormous suffering, but as a hospital operator and one of the UK’s largest employers we knew we could provide unique support for hospitals caring for the sick and injured.
“Working directly with Sergey and his Ukrainian medical colleagues we are able to understand their exact needs and get targeted aid to them directly in some of the most difficult parts of the country.”
