Derbyshire firm plays part in opening of Nightingale Hospital as virus battle continues

Bradwell-based Buxoplas supplied bespoke water pipes free of charge on next day delivery to support the speedy creation of the first of the Government’s emergency field hospitals to treat coronavirus patients, which opened on Friday.

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Buxoplas director Steve Mycock said: “As a manufacturing company that continues to operate – albeit at 70 per cent of our usual capacity due to coronavirus self-isolation – we were just happy to do anything to help.

“We have also signed up to the Government's coronavirus business volunteer scheme in case there is anything else we can do.”

Mr Mycock added that the company is also supplying water pipes for another Government field hospital at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, which is due to open for coronavirus patients on April 12.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Dales District Council praised Buxoplas.

“We know the Buxoplas team really well and it’s great that a Derbyshire Dales business is rising to the challenge and helping the national fight against coronavirus,” they said.

“It’s also an opportune moment to press home to Government the needs of local small and medium sized manufacturing and engineering firms.

“The district council is acutely aware that many small and medium-sized enterprises in the Derbyshire Dales, either in sectors not prioritised for support or above the threshold due to the size of their premises, are facing significant cashflow problems and uncertainty in the longer term.

“We are feeding back these concerns to Government and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership along with suggestions on what else could be done.

“Regarding the grants already announced by Government for eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors or in receipt of small business rate relief, the district council had paid out more than £2million by this morning and our business rates team will be working over the weekend to process as many payments as they can, as we recognise how crucial this cash is to Dales businesses right now.”

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