Former Nottingham Forest striker helping source PPE for front line workers during coronavirus pandemic

After Dexter Blackstock retired from playing professional football he founded medical technology firm MediConnect which is now helping the public donate much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline staff dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

MediConnect receives donations, which it then uses to purchase PPE direct from manufacturers and wholesalers.

Those who donate are then able to specify where those supplies should be sent, with local councils and care homes among those benefiting.

Within two days of Blackstock's company accepting donations, more than £10,000 had been generated for the cause.

And he has set a target of being able to distribute £1m worth of equipment.

Each contribution sent via donatetonhs.com can be followed up with an email request, directing it to be supplied to wherever people feel it is needed.

Dexter Blackstock said: “I have teamed up with current professional footballer Bradley Johnson to donate and raise money to buy medical grade equipment direct from source and deliver to the treatment hubs that need it most.

“Our goal is to raise more than £1 million so that if any hospitals, pharmacies, care homes etc, need protective masks or gloves, we can use our supply chains to get them where they are desperately needed fast.

“With your help, we can help save NHS staff, key workers and their patients lives.

“Please give generously and together we can beat this pandemic.”

If you would like to make a donation or to find out more about the initiative visit www.donatetonhs.com.

So far more than £15,000 has been raised towards the £1 million target.

The government has come under attack during the coronavirus pandemic over shortages of PPE for some staff who need it when doing their jobs.

But health secretary Matt Hancock said that "herculean" efforts were being made to obtain further supplies for care homes, as well as hospitals, including single-use disposable gloves, aprons and face masks.