How Dounreay is responding to coronavirus

18th April 2020

Dounreay is working with the community to provide assistance during the coronavirus outbreak.

Protecting our site

We have reduced operations at the site to a level where we require a minimum number of people to leave their homes each day to keep Dounreay in a safe and secure state. Our over-riding priority at this time is to maintain the site in a safe and secure state and so avoid placing any additional burden on our front-line services - the NHS, the Highland Council and other resilience partnership organisations.

Protecting our community

We recognise the primacy of NHS Highland, the Highland Council and other resilience partnership organisations who are leading the fight against coronavirus and protecting our community from harm. DSRL is committed to supporting these organisations in whatever way we can, without comprising the safety and security of the site.

Protecting the NHS

Every worker confined to home is playing a vital part in protecting the ability of the NHS to help those in need by slowing the transmission of the virus from one person to another.

DSRL support to Highland Council and NHS

We have placed all resources not considered essential to the safety and security of the site at the disposal of Highland Council and NHS Highland. This may result in DSRL asking staff with particular skills and experience to leave their homes and come to work, at the site or elsewhere, to work on projects as a paid employee.

Volunteering

DSRL has notified key workers whose continued availability to work is essential to the safety and security of the site. Key workers should not volunteer if this conflicts with their availability to work.

DSRL support to other organisations

DSRL is giving priority to requests received through Highland Council and NHS Highland. We will consider requests from other organisations that do not conflict with this or our ability to maintain the safety and security of the site.

What we have done so far

All PPE except stocks considered essential to site safety and security made available to NHS Highland

Equipment and member of staff provided to NHS Highland to support patient assessment centre at Caithness General Hospital.

Offer to underwrite anticipated losses by Caithness Chamber of Commerce up to £10,000 following decision to defer membership renewals

Protective screens provided to local GP surgeries

Donation to Wick Food Bank for purchase of freezers

Posters produced for Caithness Voluntary Group

Hi-visibility marshall jackets and protective screens provided to local shops

PPE provided to Thurso branch of RNLI

£30,000 donation to North Highland Initiative for dedicate fund to support community initiatives to support vulnerable individuals.

Bottles delivered to local producers of hand sanitiser

PPE provided to local undertaker

PPE provided to Royal Mail

PPE provided to Wick John O'Groats Airport

Collaboration with third parties to source three welfare cabins and install at GP surgeries for segregation of patients

Managing Director Mark Rouse said:We are committed to ensuring that Dounreay plays its part in sustaining the community during the coming weeks and months.