With donations to our Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity has been able to fund a number of projects to support staff at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The charity has provided specialist medical fold out beds, which adhere to infection control, to enable staff to rest who might otherwise be too tired to drive home safely. They have also created new relaxation rooms where staff can decompress in new reclining chairs on their breaks.
In the immediate aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, the charity directed fast support to wards and areas across the hospitals through boost bags and boxes. These contained snacks, fruit and drinks to keep staff energised and hydrated during their dedicated work with patients.
They are also providing 3,000 bags containing an estimated 35,000 food and drinks per week for NHS staff, and to combat the discomfort many NHS staff are experiencing from an increase in handwashing, the charity has distributed 5,000 tubes of hand cream to help alleviate sore hands.
Staff at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust wished to say the following thanks to everyone who has donated:
Steve Hams, Director of Quality and Chief Nurse at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We have all been so touched by the support shown by the community and the generous donations to the appeal. Our teams across the hospitals are all pulling together to ensure we can offer the best possible care for patients at this difficult time and these snack boxes and new areas to take a break really do make a difference. Thank you to everyone who has already donated, it means a great deal.”
Alexandra Heys, Respiratory Ward Manager, echoed this sentiment. She said:
“We can’t thank you all enough for all your support and donations, from all the staff who are working really hard at the moment, and it’s things like this which make a huge difference and help us to keep going, so thank you”
Urgent Appeal Grants
Grants given to NHS charities are used to meet the immediate and urgent needs of patients, staff and volunteers. Funding is also going towards helping partnerships outside hospitals, such as hospices, community healthcare and social care, making sure patients leaving hospital have access to the care they need to recover. In the longer term it will also fund programmes to help staff and volunteers recover fully once the crisis has abated, reducing the long-term impact on them and the people they care about.
About the Urgent Appeal
The NHS Charities Together Urgent Appeal acknowledges and supports NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients. It has been put together in liaison with NHS England and national bodies, our member NHS charities and national giving platforms. Click here to donate.
