NHS staff around the North East - and beyond - have come together as part of a mammoth effort to send vital medical supplies to the Ukraine-Poland border to help those injured as a result of Russia's invasion.
Responding to the call for help from some of our region's medics, the North East's NHS authorities are supporting the volunteers with logistical help as well as donating vital equipment including disinfectant, gauze, bandages, gloves, splints, neck braces, resuscitation masks, thermal foil blankets, single-use scalpels, saline and single-use surgical kits.
Karolis Rozanas, 37, is a F2 doctor at the QE in Gateshead. The Lithuanian - who lives in Whitley Bay - explained how a chance conversation with Polish NHS colleague Katarzyna Kostrzewa led to the formation of the Ukraine Medical Aid North East organisation.
