Businesswoman from Glemsford launches fundraising campaign to support donations of new headgear for front-line medical workers fighting coronavirus outbreak

A businesswoman from Glemsford has created a piece of headgear to provide maximum comfort to front-line medical staff and care workers helping to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Angel Clark, owner of 1 Oak Home Care in Acton, has created a headband which alleviates the discomfort of wearing a surgical mask – an essential item worn by workers exposed to Covid-19 – as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE).

She was inspired to create the piece of clothing after staff experienced soreness around their ears from wearing the face masks for prolonged periods of time while visiting elderly clients.

Keen to resolve the problem, Mrs Clark researched a range of potential solutions online and discovered a design which has since proven effective.

Buttons have been incorporated on to the headband to enable the face mask to sit comfortably and secure around the user’s mouth, without causing any discomfort around their ears.

“It’s quite a simple design and it’s affordable,” said Mrs Clark, whose staff are delighted with the new headgear.

After attracting interest from medical workers, Mrs Clark decided to create a batch of the items to donate to front-line staff to support their efforts during the crisis.

She will be donating the items to a range of medical facilities, including West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

An online fundraising page has been set up to help finance supplies for the project.

“I want to continue to make these available to NHS staff at local hospitals and even further afield if there is the demand,” said Mrs Clark, adding that she and her team of volunteers have been overwhelmed by the level of support from the community.

She added: “We’ll be grateful for any donation, large or small, that can help with our mission.”

To donate to the project, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfundingheadbandsfornhs.