Stratford District Council's Chinese friends donate more personal protective equipment to NHS staff at Warwick Hospital

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been able to arrange further donations from China of personal protective equipment (PPE) to The South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT}, thanks to the Council's on going cultural relationship with Fuzhou in Jiangxi province.

SWFT has now received two deliveries of PPE of masks and gloves from Fuzhou.

Fuzhou, with whom the District Council has developed a strong 'sister' city relationship over the past five years, contacted the Chairman of the District Council, Cllr Christopher Kettle, to offer the Council help through the provision of PPE, which we were delighted to accept, and who worked with Fuzhou to arrange its importation and delivery to SWFT.

Along with previous donations, SWFT have now received a total of 35,000 masks, 200 disposable protective suits and 5,000 protective gloves from China through the District Council.

Cllr Christopher Kettle, Chairman of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "We are very grateful to our friends in the Municipal Government of Fuzhou for this very generous and supportive offer during our ongoing health crisis. It is further evidence of the benefit of the relationships Stratford has been building with Fuzhou over the past five years."

Glen Burley, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive said: "I want to say a huge thank you to Fuzhou and Meishan for their generous donation of personal protective equipment in such a crucial time for the NHS.

"With their support, we are able to continue providing essential care to our patients in hospital and in the community, while keeping them and our staff safe during these unprecedented times. We are extremely grateful and would like to also thank Stratford District Council for their support."

Stratford-on-Avon District Council and the Fuzhou Municipality have been building a cultural partnership to boost trade and investment links and strengthen the local economy for the past five years.

Last year Fuzhou gifted to the District Council the Peony Pavilion which is located in the Firs Garden in Stratford-upon-Avon.