Renfrew firefighters come to the rescue of patients isolated in hospital

Crew members at the town’s community fire station collected a range of hygiene essentials, including soap, toothpaste and shower gel, for patients in the older adult unit.

Allan Gemmel, crew commander, was inspired to take action when he saw others on social media collecting toiletries for hospitals where visits to patients are currently prohibited.

“I thought it was a cracking idea,” Allan, 53, told The Gazette. “I spoke to my station commander about our crews doing a collection for people in hospital because they weren’t getting visits and he told me to go for it.

“I put an appeal out on our WhatsApp group and the guys at the station brought in toiletries from home and also bought some stuff. I think someone even donated slippers.

“We collected so much that we had bags and bags full of toiletries.”

Angela Barclay, an elderly care assistant nurse  at the RAH, then visited the fire station to collect the donations.

She said: “A massive thank-you to crew commander Allan Gemmel and Renfrew Fire Station for this amazing donation for the older adult and stroke service at RAH. It is really appreciated.”

Allan, from Bishopton, described the response to the appeal as “excellent.”

He added: “The thought of people in hospital struggling to access basic essentials made me think about what we could do to help but it was only my idea – it was the crews at Renfrew Fire Station who made the very substantial donation.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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