Chancellor Rishi Sunak has written to Simon Bailes Peugeot to praise the car retailer for its support of the NHS during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The Yorkshire-based franchised dealer group – which has sites in Guisborough, Northallerton, and Stockton – attracted praise for its “substantial contributions” in supporting the NHS and the wider health care sector during the current crisis.

In a letter to company founder Simon Bailes, the Richmond MP wrote: “Your substantial contributions - making your demonstrator fleet available for pharmacy deliveries, donating thousands of disposable seat covers to the NHS and extending breakdown assistance to NHS staff – is truly exemplary.

“The challenge the nation faces is unprecedented and the knowledge that businesses like yours are prepared to go the extra yard to help our medical services in their hour of greatest need is gratifying and reassuring.”

Simon Bailes Peugeot is donating 20,000 disposable car seat covers to a range of frontline NHS staff to help prevent the spread of infection as they make an increasing number of home visits to the elderly or those designated at risk.

This mirrors support that has come from other parts of the industry, with disposable seat covers and plastic gloves, in particular, being highlighted as products in short supply that can be donated to the NHS effort by car retailers.

Among the recipients of donations from Simon Bailes were a team of community midwives based at Darlington Memorial Hospital, district nursing teams in Stockton, Hartlepool, and Billingham, together with several medical practices throughout the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.

As reported by AM, Simon Bailes has also made its demonstrator fleet available free of charge to local pharmacies to help meet the rising demand for the home delivery of medicine and prescription drugs.

In addition, Peugeot, part of the PSA Group, has extended its Roadside Assistance programme to all NHS staff driving a Peugeot, Citroen, or DS to ensure they remain on the road during the current crisis.

Simon Bailes said: “It’s great for my team to have their efforts recognised by the Chancellor. However, like many other businesses in the area, we are motivated to do whatever we can to support our frontline NHS staff and those within the wider health care sector.”