Get the Echo newsletter - it has never been more important to stay informed Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Coronavirus is the biggest challenge the nation has faced since the Second World War - and no-one is unaffected.

But NHS and care workers are placing themselves at risk every day by simply going to work, and in Merseyside two hospital staff have died with the infection.

A persistent challenge for the NHS has been maintaining supplies of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), including masks, gowns, visors and gloves.

But the ECHO has been inundated by stories of people who have stepped up and provided thousands of pieces of equipment where the Government have struggled.

These are the pillars of their communities across Merseyside stepping up in a time of crisis.

(Image: John Gilluley)

From hobbyists to life-savers

One piece of equipment which has proved invaluable has been the 3D printer, which can create plastic components based on computer designs.

A favourite tool for hobbyists, many in the 3D printing community have been re-purposing their machines to produce plastic visors and other PPE.

John Gillulley, from Walton, said as well as the shortage of masks, he heard stories of health workers developing sores on their ears after wearing PPE for hours.

The 37-year-old said: "I was aware of the face masks being printed, but had also heard and seen stories of the pain and sores caused by having to wear surgical masks all day whilst working on the front line.

"I posted on Facebook last week asking if anyone had friends or relatives who had to wear cloth face masks with elastic round their ears for long periods of time, as I was able to 3D print an extender that holds the elastic away from the ear and stops the rubbing and pain caused by it."

Since his post, John, who works for Santander bank, said he has received 402 requests and is printing three extenders an hour.

He said: "It's meant I've been super busy which I love, and my seven year old daughter Elsie has been busy making Rainbow thank you cards for each request so it's a proper family activity."

(Image: Chris Reilly)

Chris Reilly, originally from Toxteth but now living in St Helens, began using his eight printers to make plastic visors after his girlfriend, a carer, said there was a shortage of masks.

Word spread amongst her colleagues, and then after Chris's project was shared online hundreds of requests flooded in.

The 32-year-old told the ECHO messages come from hospital nurses, care homes, and even from a family of five who all have health problems and need to isolate from each other despite living in the same house.

Chris says he has now made in the region of 2,700 plastic visors, and has asked for donations to help with the costs - which can be made here.

(Image: Chris Reilly)

He said: "Larger companies could easily be helping more. Or at least supporting those that can.

"People are desperate. Care homes have people dying everyday."

Chris questioned why privately-owned care homes couldn't do more to provide equipment.

He said: "Why are their owners not putting money into saving the lives of those that line their pockets?"

Schoolgirls and scouse Nans

Others are using less high tech but no less effective approaches.

In a piece of good timing, 11-year-old Sophie Roberts, from Old Swan, recently received a sewing machine for her birthday and had taken lessons from sewing instructor Becca Buttons.

(Image: Stephanie Roberts)

Shortly after the coronavirus crisis erupted, Becca posted an online tutorial on how to make face masks, which inspired the Lister Drive Junior School pupil to start sewing.

When her mum Stephanie Roberts, 41, told her two hospital worker sisters about Sophie's plan the idea exploded and now they are inundated with requests - including an order of 50 masks from a Bootle hospice.

Book-keeper Stephanie said: "I'm just bursting with pride, I can't believe it. She has done absolutely amazing, and for someone of her age as well.

"She has always been charitable, a few years ago she had her head shaved for the Princess Trust and her and her friend raised over £1,000."

(Image: Stephanie Roberts)

Sakina Ali, 76, put her sewing skills to use after her jewellery and spiritual gift shop, Dry Rain by Sakina, was forced to close due to the lockdown.

Left with a room full of fabric and nothing to use it for, the Wavertree nan fired up her industrial sewing machine and began stitching face masks for anyone who felt they needed protection.

Within a matter of weeks, she has hand stitched more than 1,000 masks.

Sakina's daughter said: "The stories we have heard are heartbreaking. We have heard from doctors and nurses and ambulance drivers.

(Image: Sakina Ali)

"They just don't have enough, and even if they have some for themselves there is nothing for their families.

"There are people who suffer with anxiety and depression and sometimes the mask just gives them that bit of confidence to go out and have a walk.

"[Sakina] has boundless energy and decided to put to use her sewing and manufacturing skills. At the age of 16 she started working in sewing factories in Liverpool so had a wealth of experience and a room full of fabric."

Sakina has experienced the full cruelty of COVID-19, after her auntie Bridget Richards died alone in hospital from the disease.

(Image: Sakina Ali)

Every little helps

Elsewhere independent city centre firm Silverberg Opticians are donating 100 face visors to hospitals.

The opticians, on Whitechapel near the Met Quarter, are donating masks ordinarily be used in emergency appointments to the Royal Liverpool Hospital and Arrowe Park Hospital.

Show your support for our #NHSheroes Honour our NHS heroes - from the surgeons to the porters, the nurses to the catering staff, the physios to the midwives, and the paramedics to the GPs - by helping to create a map of gratitude from every corner of Britain. We need our health workers now more than ever as they work superhuman hours and go above and beyond to protect us. Click HERE to drop a heart or a message on the map, and show you appreciate the efforts undertaken daily in the NHS. You can now also make a donation to NHS Heroes Help From Home, starting from £2.. As a thank you, everyone who donates will be entered into the weekly NHS Heroes Raffle. Click HERE to donate or to find out more - or click the link from within the Thanks a Million map. Thanks a million, NHS workers - we love you.

The visors will be distributed after a request from Dan Pearson, an emergency doctor at Arrowe Park and a patient at Silverberg.

Silverberg is also gifting £40 of vouchers to all NHS staff along with the visors, which they can use in store once the business is open as usual.

(Image: Silverberg)

Ian Silverberg, dispensing optician and managing director, said: “As healthcare providers we are all making sacrifices right now, however, the NHS staff are making more than most, even in these hard times financially we should all be doing what we can to donate and support them.

"We hope this gesture shows how much we appreciate what they are doing, caring for those most in need and they deserve to be as protected as much as possible."

Dr Pearson said: “Personal protective equipment is now a vital part of the NHS’ safety measures, so we must thank Ian and Silverberg Opticians for answering our call for more of the visors.

"This will help to protect our colleagues, patients and public health, hopefully further halting the spread."