Logistics firm Europa jumped into action over the weekend to help deliver medical beds for one of the new NHS Nightingale coronavirus hospitals.

Dartford-based Europa’s client Accora UK Ltd received a call at 8pm on Friday from the NHS requiring specialist beds urgently.

Accora UK Ltd helping deliver beds to the NHS Nightingale Hospital project at ExCeL London. Video: Accora

London’s ExCel conference centre is being turned into an emergency hospital treating coronavirus patients, with 500 beds initially made available at what will be the first of several crisis facilities dotted around the UK.

Accora is a leading manufacturer of assistive care equipment and has been a client of Europa Warehouse since 2015.

It supplies customers ranging from large public-sector organisations to small and medium businesses across the globe.

Luis Ribeiro, logistics warehouse manager for Europa in Dartford, led the team of drivers working closely with Malcolm Castle, general manager of domestic transport, who brought in a team of four drivers to deliver the beds to ExCel.

Europa Warehouse director Maria Torrent-March said: “I’m so proud of our team who came together and worked hard over the weekend to support Accora to meet their client’s deadline.

“We're not directly on the frontline but this shows how the logistics sector is vital and can do our bit to support the NHS at such a hugely challenging time.”

Working through the night, Europa’s team of 10 worked closely with Accora to pick and despatch 300 specialist beds.

Accora Ltd’s operations director Tim Drake added: “It’s at times like this when the power of working as a team really comes to life. You truly appreciate how much you depend on each other to make things happen and the shared energy and drive has been inspirational.”

Europa Worldwide Group is a leading independent logistics firm which was recently featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for the second time.

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