An appeal to support NHS staff at Nottingham’s hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak has raised £275,000 in just over two months.
The ‘Help your Hospital Heroes’ appeal was launched by Nottingham Hospitals Charity on March 20 to help hospital staff in Nottingham during the outbreak.
What started as an emergency appeal, to provide food parcels and essential toiletries to NHS staff at a time they were struggling to get to the shops, and finding empty shelves when they did so, soon developed into a community-wide effort to provide wellbeing facilities and support for staff during the health crisis.
The £275,000 raised includes donations from people and organisations across the Nottinghamshire community, as well as trusts and foundations.
Nottingham Hospitals Charity has also received a grant of £147,000 from the national organisation NHS Charities Together, which will now go towards funding further wellbeing support for NHS staff in Nottingham.
Money raised has been used to help create two Wellbeing Centres at City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre and fund four sleep pods where staff can get some rest.
Over the coming weeks, funds will be used to improve staff rest areas, provide new soft furnishings which meet infection control requirements and create outdoor areas for staff to get some time and space away from the busy hospital environment.
Barbara Cathcart, chief executive of Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “Since launching our ‘Help your Hospital Heroes’ appeal two months ago, we have been absolutely astounded by the response from the local community.
“The past few weeks have been a challenging time for many of us, but it’s been heart-warming to see the people of Nottinghamshire rally together to support their local NHS workers.
“Thanks to our generous donors, we have been able to make a real difference to staff at Nottingham’s hospitals by providing wellbeing support and facilities which have already been accessed by thousands of members of NHS staff.
"I’d like to thank each and every person, organisation and Trust that has contributed towards making this possible.”
To donate to the 'Help your Hospital Heroes' appeal visit here.
