Marks & Spencer has pledged to donate thousands of care packs to those suffering from coronavirus, as the first wave of patients are admitted into the new Nightingale hospital in London.
It's part of a huge new support package to help both frontline workers and those who are battling the life-threatening virus.
The retailer said it will donate "we are the NHS" uniform t-shirts to all doctors and nurses and provide patients who are ready to be discharged with a clothing bundle to take away with them.
These will be available for male and female patients, and will each contain a t-shirt, jumper, joggers, knickers or boxers and socks, and will be available in a range of sizes.
M&S is also donating over 4,000 pyjamas to NHS Derbyshire, located close to its Castle Donington distribution centre. It said these items can be used as scrubs during the pandemic.
And from next week, it will start a new, twice-weekly free food delivery service for healthcare workers at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and Great Ormond Street Hospital for the next two months.
Steve Rowe, CEO of M&S, said: "We’re doing our bit to help the NHS by focussing on what we do best - providing great food and clothes - in the hope we can make it just a little easier for our NHS heroes to do what they do best, as well as the patients in their care.
"We get through these challenging times by pulling together and it’s been truly humbling to read the suggestions that have been pouring in from colleagues and customers alike with ideas for how we can help those on the NHS frontline
"At a time when everyone is facing into personal challenges and our own frontline colleagues are working round the clock - it’s heartening to see the whole nation is getting behind the fantastic NHS teams we’re relying on right now. We really are all in this together and I’m delighted we have been able to turn some of those ideas into action.”
Natalie Forrest, chief operating officer at NHS Nightingale London said: "These packs will ensure real dignity for our patients and make the nurses very proud to be able to provide such an amazing level of care."
Marks & Spencer's latest initiative comes after it introduced special shopping hours for NHS, emergency service and health and social care workers last week.
The first hour of trading on Tuesday and Thursdays are now dedicated to critical care workers.
Colleagues in stores are also offering free Easter eggs to NHS workers to show their appreciation all day on Friday.
