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Personal protective equipment (PPE) for unpaid carers

Eligibility

To get free PPE, you need to be an adult or child who:

  • looks after a friend or family member due to disability, age, addiction or ill health
  • does not get paid and the care is not linked to paid work or voluntary work
  • provides care to someone who doesn't live in the same household.

Recommended levels of PPE

The level of PPE you need will depend on the type of care you provide. If you are an unpaid carer and you do not live with the person you provide care for, it is recommended that you follow the government PPE guidance for unpaid carers. This guide, which should be used alongside guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family and local policies, where they exist, has also been translated into a number of different languages.

A helpful video is included in the guidance to help you understand how to put on and take off PPE items.

Order PPE

  1. If you are an unpaid carer and require any PPE you must sign up to the National Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) PPE portal before you can place an order.

    Sign up to the PPE portal
  2. After you have signed up to the PPE portal, you can place an order for PPE.

    Order PPE for unpaid carers

For further information call the Department of Health and Social Care’s PPE portal customer service team on 08000 876 6802, speak with a local community navigation organisation or to Kent Young Carers (Imago Community) if you're a young carer.

For any further queries, please contact kccppeprovidersupport@kent.gov.uk.

Information on using PPE

For more information about how and when to use PPE correctly, read the PPE guide for community and social care settings.