The local response to the COVID-19 pandemic is set to receive a significant boost, with a £200,000 donation from Klondyke Fishing Company Limited, a fishing business owned by the Tait family of Fraserburgh.

 

The money, to be split equally between NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership, will be used to support staff as they deliver services in a completely different way.

 

NHS Grampian intend to use the money to purchase iPads for use across the organisation. Sheena Lonchay, operational manager for NHS Grampian charities, said: "In hospitals, iPads will enable patients to keep in contact with their families; this is particularly important at a time when visiting has been suspended in all but exceptional circumstances. In the community, they could be used by the community nursing teams to liaise with colleagues for additional medical or nursing advice. The devices could also be left with patients to reduce the frequency of visits by the nursing and healthcare teams.

 

"While the functions of iPads can be more limited than those provided by a laptop, the lack of a keyboard makes them easier to clean and provides more effective hygiene control.

 

"The public response to this pandemic has been quite staggering and the generosity shown by Klondyke is amazing."

 

Angie Wood, Interim Chief Officer for the Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership said: "We are incredibly thankful for this very generous donation. Like our colleagues at NHS Grampian it is our intention to use this money to help support our fantastic social care staff and clients stay connected during these unprecedented times."

 

A spokesperson for Klondyke said: "In making this donation the Directors and family wish to recognise the hard and dedicated  work of all staff at NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Council HSCP in delivering care to the vulnerable in our communities in what are extremely challenging times in dealing with this Coronavirus."