An Edinburgh woman is currently doing her bit to fight back against the coronavirus pandemic, as her 69-year-old uncle fights for his life on a ventilator at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Tina Hedley-Murray, a support worker who works with young carers, has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money to pay for vital supplies for frontline NHS staff and affected patients after hearing that the people caring for her uncle were short of some items.
The fundraiser was initially for toiletries for the patients, including body wash and deodorant. Staff at the Royal Infirmary now say they have enough supplies like that, so Ms Hedley-Murray is keeping the fundraiser going and says the nurses can use the funds any way they want to.
On her GoFundMe page she wrote:
"Hi all, this is such a worrying time for everyone. My uncle along with other patients in intensive care are fighting this horrendous virus. Please help if you can. Thanks all."
She told Edinburgh Live :
"My uncle's in (coronavirus) ward 118 at the moment; they're doing a fantastic job under the circumstances, he's on a ventilator and has been on it for eight days. They're going to try bring my uncle round soon and get him off the ventilator.
"The staff initially asked if we could get deodorants for people, I put up a target of £50 and we got £119, which was great. The nurses now have loads of deodorants and toiletries but they said that they could use the money towards other things they need at the hospital like gloves, other protective equipment and PPE supplies.
"It's very difficult to have a relative in the ward as you can't visit them at all, and they're usually sedated and can't speak so you can't phone them.
"It's such a worrying time and you can't see your loved ones. My wife works for the NHS and she's very stressed, I just want to do something to help. Some nurses aren't getting proper meals because the hospital canteens are closed."
All the money donated via Tina's campaign will go directly to the Royal Infirmary for staff to use in any way they think is appropriate.
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