During the Covid-19 pandemic, The Channel Islands Co-operative Society donated hundreds of bottles of hand sanitiser and digital thermometers to care homes in Guernsey.

Always committed to the needs of local communities, in late 2020 The Channel Islands Co-operative Society reached out to care providers across the Channel Islands to begin offering hand sanitiser and thermometers to those needing the items in order to operate safely.

In Guernsey, the Society assisted 18 care providers donating 108 cases of hand sanitiser and some 467 digital thermometers at a time when such equipment was vital for remaining open as an essential workplace.

Recipients of the donation included Summerland House Care Home. Cathy Bailey, Director of Nursing at Guernsey Care Homes Ltd said, ‘We are extremely grateful to the Channel Islands Co-op for thinking of us during lockdown. The hand sanitiser is obviously in constant use and having extra digital thermometers has enabled us to allocate them to individuals, thereby further reducing the risk of infection in our residents. This was an incredibly generous donation which exemplifies the ‘Guernsey together’ message.’

(Pictured above) The team at Summerland House Nursing Home

Ell Hopton, the Society’s community and sustainability manager, said, ‘It has been a privilege to support this key sector within our community. It was important for us to offer help to other frontline essential services which may have found finances or resources to be limited following a difficult year in 2020. We’re pleased to know that these donations have helped to make a real difference in our community.’

The sanitiser donated had an alcohol content of 75% + 5% ethanol which exceeds the minimum required for industry standards. The thermometers given were non-contact, infrared devices, designed to be handheld and operated whilst maintaining physical distancing.

In Jersey, approximately 124 cases of hand sanitiser and over 1,000 thermometers were given to support staff in residential care homes and essential workers at nurseries to help them safely remain in operation during lockdown.